ANC Gauteng chair Panyaza Lesufi was on Monday summoned to Luthuli House to answer to national officials about his negative public remarks regarding the government of national unity (GNU).
In a letter dated October 6, which TimesLIVE Premium has seen, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said Lesufi must explain why he has been making anti-GNU remarks that stand opposed to the decision by the national executive committee (NEC).
Lesufi is said to have taken an anti-GNU stance which has led to the collapse of negotiations with the DA in the province and local government.
This led to the DA being left out of Lesufi’s executive, and his detractors cited this as part of the reason for the removal of Cilliers Brink as mayor of Tshwane.
Mbalula told Lesufi he must explain himself to national officials led by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday
According to the letter, Lesufi could be charged for bringing the ANC into disrepute over his anti-GNU stance because he contradicted decisions taken by the NEC to establish the GNU.
Mbalula told Lesufi he has “observed with concern” his public remarks on the GNU which “clearly go against” NEC resolutions.
The NEC did not take the GNU decision lightly as it went as far as debating the outcome of the May 29 elections and what it means for the ANC, and discussed options the party should consider going forward before ultimately deciding on establishing the GNU, Mbalula said.
“In contrast, your public articulations seem to argue in contradiction to the NEC resolution in this regard, thereby bringing the ANC into public disrepute,” wrote Mbalula.
“Ordinarily any organisation that fails to observe the basic tenet of the organisation with respect to the principle of democratic centralism naturally invites such public disrepute and ridicule of its leadership.”
Mbalula told Lesufi he must explain himself to national officials led by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday on why he should not be charged with violating the principles of democratic centralism and violating the ANC constitution as decisions by the NEC are binding to all lower structures.
"You are therefore requested to make this presentation as outlined above on October 7 at Chief Albert Luthuli House, 10th floor at 10am," reads the letter.
The possible charging of Lesufi, should the ANC national officials agree with Mbalula, comes as discussions over whether the Gauteng provincial executive committee (PEC) should be disbanded along with that of KwaZulu-Natal.
Sunday Times previously reported the ANC's KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng PECs are set to become the first casualties of the party's dismal performance in the May 29 elections. The two provinces were the ANC's biggest losers, dropping from more than 50% to 36% in Gauteng. In KZN the party declined from 54.2% in 2019 to 17%.
Most of the ANC's national working committee (NWC) members are said to have backed a call at its last meeting for the executive committees in the two provinces to be disbanded and replaced with interim leaders to take them to the 2026 local government elections.
Eight of the 10 NWC and NEC members who previously spoke to TimesLIVE Premium were adamant the party would cement the decision at a special meeting this month.
Some said the disbandment of the two provincial structures would not receive much pushback and the big debate was likely to centre on who is appointed to the task teams.
The NWC meeting, however, did not make a firm recommendation after Ramaphosa was said to have delayed the decision.
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