Jason Felix and Siyavuya Mzantsi
poo protest leaders Andile Lili and Loyiso Nkohla were reinstated as ANC members yesterday.
The ANC Dullah Omar region expelled Nkohla from the party last month and suspended Lili for a year after they organised protests without leadership approval, dumping faeces at the entrance to the provincial legislature and bringing the ANC’s name into disrepute.
Nkohla and Lili were regarded as leaders of the Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement, representing residents of informal settlements.
Ses’khona has staged service protests as recently as yesterday.
The pair appealed to the ANC provincial disciplinary committee.
The appeal was upheld yesterday.
Committee chairman Fezile Calana said the Dullah Omar region had failed to complete its disciplinary process within the required six months from its charging the pair in July.
“The procedural technicalities must be followed within the ANC,” said Calana.
“Lili and Nkohla were charged in July 2013 and the regional disciplinary committee made a decision by February 24.”
The region had had the option of asking the ANC’s head office for an extension of the period allowed for concluding the hearing, but had not done so.
“We looked at the technicalities of the case and not at the charges,” Calana said.
Asked if there had been any pressure from the national office, he said: “There was no pressure from anyone. The announcement that the two were expelled was publicly made and they had 21 days to appeal.
“There was no pressure from anyone, not from the national office, not from anyone.”
Asked whether the ANC condoned the actions of Lili and Nkohla, and about ANC provincial chairman Marius Fransman’s outrage at the pair, Calana said these questions should be put to the provincial executive committee.
Fransman could not be reached, while ANC provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile
welcomed the decision to reinstate Nkohla and Lili.
Dullah Omar disciplinary committee chairman Faizel Moosa said delays had dogged the case.
“You have to consider that it was the year Madiba died and the festive season also played a role. At the time they were charged they could not decide whether to be represented by a lawyer or themselves.”
Lili said: “We are happy to be welcomed by the organisation of Nelson Mandela and Chief Albert Luthuli.
“We cannot abandon the organisation of the poor people. Chief Albert Luthuli was asked by members of the ANC to lead in protests against the apartheid government. We are following that way. Our people simply asked to be led and we are doing this for them.”
Nkohla said they would organise bigger crowds in support of the ANC. “It’s time to change the face of the Western Cape,” he said.
Nkohla faces expulsion as a city councillor. Lili was expelled as a councillor last year and lost his high court appeal.
The Cape Town Magistrate’s Court case against Lili, arising from the dumping of human waste at the Esplanade station, was postponed yesterday. He and Nkohla are to appear in the same court tomorrow in connection with the dumping of human waste at the legislature last year.