Riyaz Patel
The Secretary General of the ANC says those members who supported the candidature of Morocco as Chair of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) in Durban (Nov. 11-15) have seriously contravened the party position and will be the “subject of serious reprimand and disciplinary sanction.”
“These individual ANC members have done so despite having been instructed by the Secretary General of the ANC, who is the administrative custodian and day-to-day guardian of the National Conference Resolutions and policy positions of the ANC, NOT to support Morocco’s candidature,” Ace Magashule said in a scathing statement.
He said the ANC formally distances itself from the “ill-disciplined” actions of some individual ANC members who acted “without any mandate” from the ANC.
“The longstanding principled position of the ANC with regards to Morocco, and it’s illegal occupation of the Western Sahara, and the brutal repression of the Saharawi people, as well as the ANC’s support for the Polisario Front, is well established.”
“The principle of responsible and disciplined representation is sacrosanct.”
“This principled position was re-affirmed by a supporting Resolution condemning Morocco for its illegal occupation of the Western Sahara at the 54th National Conference of the ANC,” said Magashule.
The ANC Secretary General reminded his fellow party members that “Democratic centralism dictates that every single member of the ANC must accept the majority decisions – enshrined as Resolutions – adopted at National Conferences, and must strictly adhere to these, regardless of whatever individual opinions any individual, or minority-group of individuals, may hold.”
Magashule underlined that “In an act of flagrant indiscipline and insubordination some members of the ANC, who represented the ANC at the said UCLG Conference, supported the candidature of Morocco to be elected as Chair of the UCLG.“
Mohamed Boudra, the Mayor of Al Hoceima in Morocco, was elected UCLG – World Chairperson.
“For the record it must be stated that the ANC at no stage in any manner whatsoever supported, or considered supporting, the candidature of Morocco.”
The ANC reiterated its “principled support for the people of the Western Sahara,” and reaffirmed its call to Morocco to immediately end its “illegal and brutal occupation of the Western Sahara.”
Any deviation by any individual, or minority of individuals, from the principle of democratic centralism should be seen in a “very serious light,” and ought to be subject to “disciplinary action.”
It is critical for the ANC to return to its historical cultural roots as the leader of society, and to forge principled unity, said Magashule.
In this context, he added, the wedge drivers that the former President of the ANC, comrade OR Tambo, warned us against at the Morogoro Conference must be exposed and rooted out.