Radebe slams members taking ANC to court

ANC head of Policy, Jeff Radebe has described as rotten apples those that take the ANC to court. This as the Constitutional court is due to deliver judgement on a case by Free State members who want to set aside the provincial elective conference.

Radebe says there is a standing decision of the national executive committee that those who take the ANC to court they have expelled themselves.

North West members are also going to the High Court alleging bogus members form part of the provincial delegation to the elective conference due to start on Sunday.

About 700 disgruntled ANC members will today be in the Mahikeng High Court again after filing an interdict preventing registered provincial delegates from attending the Mangaung elective conference on Tuesday. The move comes as the party›s secretary- general, Gwede Mantashe announced that the provincial nomination processes were legitimate.

The disgruntled members claim to have been left out and their views, on who should be in the ANC top six, post Mangaung.

They also accuse the party›s Provincial Executive Council, including the Secretary Kabelo Mataboge, of allegedly allowing unlawful nomination processes to continue. The group›s spokesperson, Xolile Nxume, says they are very disappointed at the way in which the processes were conducted.

Radebe said the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung will have a major affect on issues surrounding South Africa’s economy.

“Our view is that the conference will have a major impact going forward, especially on issues of the economy,” said Radebe, who is a member of the African National Congress national executive committee (NEC) and is the minister of justice and constitutional development.

Speaking to reporters in Bloemfontein, he said ANC members had focused on political transformation since the country gained democracy.
“ANC members [now] need a paradigm shift on socio-economic transformation.”

The National Development Plan and the results of Census 2011 would be discussed in commissions at the conference, which is being held from Sunday until Friday. Radebe said the commissions would also “resolve on issues of nationalisation”.

“The NEC conducted a study to deal with the issue. Conference will pronounce on what will happen [with nationalisation].”

The role of the state in the economy and the issue of land expropriation would also be discussed.

“There will not be a specific committee on gender. All commissions will deal with issues of gender,” Radebe said.

The role of the judiciary and the justice system would also factor into discussions and debates.

Meanwhile, provincial ANC spokesperson Kenny Morolong says the ANC is shocked and disappointed with regard to the step the members have taken. Morolong says they are to verify whether people involve in the action are staunch members of the ANC or not.- Sapa