LEADERS of the ANC are this week wrapping up their investigation into the manipulation of list processes in the Western Cape ahead of last August’s municipal polls.
ANC provincial organiser for the probe Richard Dyantyi said yesterday the process was entering its final leg this week.
“The NEC (ANC's national executive committee) has been with us since October investigating this matter.
"They have been going to the branches in different regions and sitting down with affected members to hear each one’s side of the story,” he pointed out.
The ANC has deployed several senior NEC members to the Western Cape, including Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and his deputy Joe Phaahla, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
Dyantyi said the party leaders wanted to get to the bottom of the manipulation of the list process.
He said the leaders would compile a report after they finished their work this week.
“A decision was taken last year that there should be an investigation into whether there was manipulation of the list process and what steps should be taken afterwards.
"A lot of work has been done thus far,” he said.
Weeks before the August 3 elections, the ANC in various provinces was rocked by angry protests by its members, who challenged the nomination processes for the election of proportional representatives and ward councillors.
In the Western Cape, members threatened to boycott the elections if their preferred candidate was not placed on the list.
Provincial leaders were at pains to explain that just because a certain candidate was a favourite when nominated during branch meetings, their ranking on the list might change after being scrutinised during public hearings.
NEC members including Motshekga, Phaahla, Mthe- thwa, Nomaindia Mfeketo, Jackson Mthembu, Pinky Mokoto, Rosinah Semenya and Motsoaledi will this week conclude hearings into the matter before compiling a report.
The delegation has been meeting with various branch chairpersons and their secretaries to discuss the disputes relating to the alleged amendments and manipulation of the lists, as well as establish the role played by members who formed part of the regional list conference in the alleged offences.
The SACP in the Western Cape was critical of the pro- vincial executive committee and called on national leaders to intervene in the matter.
At the time, the party ex- pressed concern that branch structures in the province were still plagued by what it called destructive factional tendencies and used elections to favour those in their camp.