Johannesburg - A Soweto family has been accused of capturing the branch executive committee (BEC) and manipulating internal party processes to occupy strategic positions in their ward.
In the latest allegations around the disputes dogging the ANC’s candidate list for the municipal elections, members of ward 11 in Chiawelo accused the powerful Maluleke family of running the ward like their fiefdom.
Four concerned members allege that the family’s matriarch, Meisie Maluleke, serves as the ANC ward 11 councillor, her daughter Tintswalo is the secretary and their “domestic worker”, Mapule Mbokazi, is the deputy chairwoman.
Tintswalo and Mbokazi also served as the Zone 4 secretary and co-ordinator; and branch electoral team co-ordinator and secretary of the branch’s ANC Youth League structure, respectively.
The members have warned of dire consequences for the ANC, saying that unless the party resolved the disputes, it could lose the ward to opposition parties.
They said the process to nominate ward councillor candidates was flawed from the beginning, and the Maluleke family stifled internal democracy through gatekeeping.
The members spoke on condition on anonymity for fear of reprisals.
“This is creating problems for the ANC in our ward and the chances of us winning the municipal elections on August 3 are slim. We are facing a stiff challenge from the DA and the EFF. They are capitalising on our weaknesses,” said a member.
Another said processes were manipulated for Meisie to serve a second term as councillor, despite about 90 percent of the residents wanting Joshua Mufamadi to be the candidate.
The ANC Greater Joburg region administrator, Nomoya Mnisi, who was described as a friend of the Malulekes, was accused of being used by the family to subvert internal party processes.
In February, according to documents The Star has seen, ANC members Bongumusa Mnguni and Warren Mackrill, of ward 126 in Zone 5, brought a complaint against Mnisi to the party’s dispute resolution committee, where they accused her of tampering with the candidate list for the elections.
The committee ruled that it was “clear from evidence that Nomoya has breached a duty of trust bestowed to her by the office of the ANC in GJHB (Greater Joburg) region”.
“We therefore recommend a disciplinary inquiry into her conduct and fitness to hold office.”
Mufamadi said they had exhausted all internal processes to have the matter addressed.
“We wrote letters but to no avail.
“Political parties have until 25 June to rectify their candidate lists lodged with the Electoral Commission (of South Africa).
“Look, the ANC won’t make it in that ward unless this matter is addressed urgently,” warned Mufamadi.
He added: “I’m not happy about the whole process. They (Malulekes) see me as a threat. They have destroyed the ANC's character because they just want positions.”
The Star has also seen a petition signed by Ward 11 residents, calling on ANC senior officials to address the grievances raised.
Meisie declined to comment but Tintswalo disputed the allegations against her family, saying: “I was elected as branch secretary through ANC processes.
“People are voted into positions (of power) by party members and they don’t nominate themselves.”
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga said unhappiness regarding the ANC candidate list process had the potential to hurt the party at the polls.
“This has serious implications.
“It will weaken the ANC in certain areas; some people have said they would not participate during the elections due to some candidates that have allegedly been imposed on them,” said Mathekga.
Disgruntled members might even campaign against the ANC, he said, adding that the matter could discourage many from voting.
@luyolomkentane
The Star