*This article has been edited
Cape Town - The ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) in the Western Cape has removed ANC MPL Siyazi Tyatyam as the party’s deputy chief whip in the provincial legislature, sparking widespread criticism within party ranks.
The PEC held a lekgotla at the weekend to discuss, among other issues, the party’s performance in the municipal elections, but members raised concerns that the party’s biggest constituency, the Dullah Omar region, was not present to give feedback.
Provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs confirmed the PEC decided disciplinary procedures against provincial chairman Marius Fransman be expedited, that the caretakers should recommend to the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Fransman be suspended until the conclusion of the disciplinary processes.
Jacobs also confirmed John Schuurman was elected as the chairman of the disciplinary committee and Max Ozinsky be co-opted on to the PEC.
Party insiders said ANC MPL Richard Dyantyi would replace Tyatyam as deputy chief whip in the legislature.
Tyatyam said he only became aware of the decision when the ANC chief whip in the legislature, Pierre Uys, told him about the move.
“It was all out of the blue. I was never approached prior or after the meeting by the PEC about the impending decision,” he said.
Uys confirmed he had received official correspondence from the party. He said he had informed the Speaker Sharna Fernandez and the secretary of the provincial parliament, Dr Gilbert Lawrence, about the changes.
Party insiders said calls were also made for Fransman to be suspended.
“Calls were made on the grounds that the party had officially charged Fransman and his case was now with the national disciplinary committee,” a member said.
Fransman took to social media to air his concerns about the PEC meeting. He posted on Facebook a blow-by-blow account of developments in the ANC since the local government elections on August 3, the NEC lekgotla and political fall-outs, as well as the PEC lekgotla.
Cape Argus