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Chaos erupted last week at the council chambers in the Rustenburg municipality as a group of rebel ANC councillors protested against a decision by the North West ANC to remove Speaker Boipelo Marekoa-Kodongo and council whip Happy Serongoane.
But a later intervention by Luthuli House saw another special meeting held in the evening and the speaker reinstated.
Those sympathetic to Marekoa-Kodongo claimed that she had been removed because she supported Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga during the ANC Women’s League conference earlier last month. Motshekga lost the league presidential race to Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini.
Marekoa-Kodongo’s opponents disagreed, saying that her reinstatement suggested that Luthuli House was defending “corruption and nepotism”.
Speaking to City Press under condition of anonymity, a municipal employee said the speaker had “used council money for a family wedding and funeral, hired two sisters-in-law in council, had a half brother working in her office and one of her relatives as her bodyguard”.
“I do not think she is fit for the position,” said the source.
However, ANC secretary in Rustenburg’s Bojanala region Tokyo Mataboge said the decision to oust ANC councillors violated the Municipal Structures Act and the constitution of the ANC. Mataboge said the ANC was strongly opposed to ANC councillors collaborating with the opposition to remove their colleagues from office.
“What happened at that council meeting was unlawful,” he said.
In Tlokwe in 2013 the ANC in North West expelled councillors who had worked with the opposition to remove the ANC mayor supported by the party’s provincial executive committee.
Marekoa-Kodongo said she was surprised about allegations of corruption against her because she did not sign anything involving municipal funds. “The funds are signed for by the CFO and the municipal manager,” she said.
She said those accusing her of using council funds to plan her wedding were driven by jealousy and were trying to discredit her. “The truth shall prevail. They must bring forward evidence, I only sign the council agenda and minutes,” said Marekoa-Kodongo.
She said that she had supported Motshekga at the ANCWL conference and that was her “personal view”.
“I will also support Dlamini as the newly elected leader,” she said.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe referred queries to North West secretary Dakota Legoete, who could not be reached for comment after repeated attempts.
South African National Civic Organisation in North West said on Sunday that the ANC should “recall the councillors who colluded with DA councillors to unprocedurally remove Marekoa-Kodongo and Serongoane”.
Provincial chairman Paul Sebego said “the divisive actions of these councillors are similar to those who were recalled in Tlokwe local municipality for committing like offences”.
