The ANC is in crisis mode, reacting swiftly to a water-supply crisis in a North West municipality by firing top council officials believed to be culpable in the unrest that has left four people dead.
The Times has learned that ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, accompanied by the party's head of campaigns, Nomvula Mokonyane, recalled Madibeng mayor Poppy Magongwa, chief whip Solly Malete and speaker Buti Makhongela - an indication that the party held the three at least partly responsible for the crisis.
Mantashe did not respond to requests for comment.
ANC Bojanala region secretary Tokyo Mataboge confirmed that at a Sunday night meeting "[Mantashe] was reflecting on the issues affecting Madibeng. The national executive committee instructed the region and provincial executive committees to look into the issues and deal with them," he said.
An insider described the meeting, at Brits Town Hall, as "tense". He said the axed officials were not allowed to "get a word in" as Mantashe laid down the law.
The three officials are the first casualties in a scandal that could have serious repercussions for the ANC in the forthcoming general election, and all indications are that the dismissals will not be the last.
"Gwede said the council must suspend the municipal manager [Monde Juta], its chief operations officer [Andrew Modise] and the supply chain manager [and acting head of corporate services [Xola Magwala]," the insider said.
"These things have been bubbling under the surface for a while but the people responsible have not been dealt with. Mantashe was firm. He said this was a directive [from above]."
The ANC national leadership's fear - that the water crisis in Mothotlung and surrounding areas could be to the advantage of opposition parties, particularly Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) - prompted Sunday's meeting, the insider said.
"Another thing that seems to have triggered the meeting was the presence of the EFF [at the funeral of three protesters at the weekend]. They realised people are very angry at the ANC and that this might give our opponents ammunition [to use] against us," he said.
Political analyst Professor Andre Duvenhage said the crisis presented smaller parties with an opportunity to make inroads.
"The ANC will pay a price. My sense is that their support [nationally] will go below 60%.
"The EFF could become the official opposition [in North West]. This is not [what] the ANC wanted to see so close to an election."
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