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Former president and chairperson of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) Electoral Committee Kgalema Motlanthe said on Thursday that as the party heads towards its fifty-fifth national elective conference, moral standards and leaders in good standing are important.

He was addressing media at Luthuli House in Johannesburg where he tabled the official nomination process and rules for the December 16 conference.

Motlanthe said branches must be properly constituted with both genders represented in committees and added that at least 50% of leaders should be women.

He said the party hoped that members would comply with the end of vote buying and slates, as laid out by the rules.

The ANC expected the highest ethical and moral standards from its NEC leaders, Motlanthe said.

“We need cadres who have proven leadership and political capacity, a good track record, public standing and the moral integrity to provide leadership to the ANC, the motive forces of our struggle, and society in general. We need the NEC [National Executive Committee] to reflect our values and our united, non-racial and non-sexist character,” he said.

Further, he added that the party’s NEC should consist of a generational mix, with young people in leadership positions.

“We must strive to achieve an NEC with at least 25% of members being young people. At least 50% of nominees and elected members must be women and we must strive to represent the different national groups in our country,” Motlanthe added.

The party also hopes to achieve a good balance of leadership that reflects and draws from the many sectors of society.

This includes leaders from different classes; from all national groups; from all parts of the country, both rural and urban; from many sectors and communities; from different faith groups; and importantly, from marginalised groups, such as people living with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community.

The ANC reiterated its stance that no-one may contest the ANC leadership election if they have been found guilty of, or have been charged with unethical or immoral conduct, or any serious crime, or corruption.

Motlanthe explained that a charge was defined as being charged in a court of law and added that this rule applied also to members who had been charged with any criminal offences in cases that were still being heard, or where a judgment or sentence was being appealed.

Documents with the rules attached.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill, which bars municipal managers and senior managers from holding political office.

According to the Parliamentary Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports (ATC), Ramaphosa signed the bill on 16 August 2022. The National Assembly passed the Bill in December 2020.

It prevents municipal managers, and senior managers who are directly accountable to municipal managers, from holding political office, whether they have been appointed in a permanent, temporary or acting capacity.

Section 71B also prevents staff members from holding political office.

"A staff member may not hold political office in a political party, whether in a permanent, temporary or acting capacity. A person who has been appointed as a staff member before [the legislation] takes effect, must comply with [it] within one year of the commencement of [the legislation]," it reads.

It defines political office as a position of chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, deputy secretary or treasurer of a political party nationally or in any province, region or other area in which the party operates.

The 2011 Amendment Act, which this Bill will replace, had a similar political office ban but it only applied to municipal managers and their direct reports.

The legislation also provides for the repeal of the Municipal Systems Amendment Act of 2011 which was declared unconstitutional in 2017, for its failure to comply with the procedures as set out in Section 76 of the Constitution. The Act was tagged as a Section 75, instead of a Section 76, Bill.

In her audit of municipal figures for the 2020/21 financial year, Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke reported that R21.10-billion of irregular expenditure was incurred at a local government level, mainly due to non-compliance with supply chain legislation.

Maluleke also reported that only 62 municipalities gave her office credible statements when the audit season began.

A whopping R10.4-billion was paid to municipal finance units in salaries, yet only 25% of the 257 municipalities across the country could produce credible financial statements to her team.

Municipalities also spent R1.26-billion to hire financial consultants to assist them in compiling their financial statements.

Earlier this month, News24 reported that municipal ward councillors across the country were not appropriately skilled in managing council affairs, and that some even struggled to write reports and do presentations.

These were some of the findings of a development strategy for councillors, which was spearheaded by the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority.

In respect of municipal financial management, critical skills gaps were identified in, among others, financial governance, municipal financial management and reporting, and municipal procurement.

The development strategy highlighted skills shortages in interpersonal and presentation skills, as well as report writing.

Suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane didn't want to work with her former spokesperson, Cleopatra Mosana, because she disrespected her by calling her "Busisiwe", the Section 194 Committee heard on Wednesday.

The committee's hearings to determine whether Mkhwebane misconducted herself or is incompetent resumed with the testimony of Gumbi Tyelela, the acting head of corporate services at the Office of the Public Protector.

According to Tyelela's affidavit, Mosana's last working day was 30 April 2019.

She worked as the Public Protector spokesperson for one year and 10 months. She left having given 24-hour notice.

"I recall it was on a Monday morning when I was called to the PP boardroom, just after 08:00. Present was both Ms Mosana and the then chief of staff, Linda Molelekoa. The PP came in," reads Tyelela's affidavit, which he confirmed to the evidence leader, advocate Nazreen Bawa SC.

The affidavit continues, "She was upset and indicated that she no longer wanted to work with Ms Mosana as she did not want to be doing her work, and that Ms Mosana was disrespecting her by calling her by her first name 'Busisiwe'."

"She indicated that Ms Mosana must go home and serve her notice from home. No details were provided as to what precisely in relation to Ms Mosana's work had brought this about.

"I intervened and requested that Ms Mosana leave the room whereafter I informed the PP that what she had done was dismiss Ms Mosana without any process and that she could not do so. Apprised that she did not want to work with Ms Mosana any longer, I requested that she allowed me to deal with the matter going forward."

Mosana was offered another post, but she declined.

"She wanted to remain in the private office. She wanted a meeting with PP to find out what she had done, but we cautioned her against this as the PP had clearly indicated that she no longer wanted to work with her."

A labour dispute ensued, and the legal proceedings cost the Public Protector R468 574.58, according to Tyelela.

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) subsequently ordered the Office of the Public Protector to pay Mosana R529 536.56.

Following the CCMA ruling, the office sought legal advice and was informed a review process would cost in the region of R450 000, "but that there was a reasonable prospect of success".

The Public Protector is now seeking to review the CCMA ruling on Mosana. The matter is still pending.

At the time, Mosana had been in the firing line, having to answer questions on the controversial South African Reserve Bank (SARB)/CIEX and Vrede dairy farm/Estina reports.

"If it is true, you would agree it would be almost unheard of for someone, say it was a minister or the chairperson of this committee, to call them by their name," said Mkhwebane's counsel, advocate Dali Mpofu SC.

Tyelela agreed.

Mpofu said at least you could call Mkhwebane "you".

Mpofu added that Mkhwebane might not have wanted to work with someone who needed to be "spoon-fed".

Tyelela also testified about several other labour disputes during Mkhwebane's term at the office.

Tyelela's cross-examination by Mpofu continued into the afternoon.

South Africa's financial watchdog says it has reached an agreement with a pension fund for African National Congress (ANC) employees to get the party to pay it R10-million a month until its arrears are cleared.

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) said on Thursday that the party had not been paying contributions to its staff provident fund, which has 535 members.

"The African National Congress, which is a participating employer in the fund, has not met its obligations in terms of making regular retirement fund contributions into the fund," it said.

The governing party has occasionally struggled to pay salaries to its staff on time. In January, some staff members picketed outside its headquarters at Luthuli House over outstanding wages. Last month members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union again accused the party of not paying salaries on time.

The FSCA announcement shows that the party has also been deficient in paying contributions to the pension funds of employees.

The watchdog said it had reached an enforceable undertaking with the fund to implement an agreement it has with the ANC to pay R10-million into the fund every month "until the arrear contributions are extinguished".

The fund will also need to provide monthly updates to the FSCA about things like deductions from employees' salaries and how much it still needs to pay.

It also needs to provide monthly updates to members on the status of the arrear contributions.

Mvusi Mdala, a representative of ANC employees, said if the party did indeed pay the R10-million per month as outlined in the agreement, he hoped it would not come "at the further expense" of employees.

ANC staff members had still not been paid their salaries for July, he said, which he described as an "unbearable situation".

He said employees also didn't know when or whether they would receive their August salaries.

FSCA commissioner Unathi Kamlana said in a statement that the onus on ensuring that there are no arrear contributions rested with the trustees of a fund.

"Both employers and funds are reminded of the importance of treating their workers and members fairly by honouring their obligations as enshrined in various legislation," he said.

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe reportedly joked in July that "if the ANC was running a cash-in-transit heist", it would be able to say with certainty that "robberies" would give it enough cash to cover its staff's salaries.

Political parties represented in Parliament will apply to Parliament for a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The political parties have held meetings for several weeks on how to best hold Ramaphosa accountable for the Phala Phala farm debacle.

The political parties, which include the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), United Democratic Movement, African Transformation Movement, the Congress of the People, and the Democratic Alliance (DA), believe Ramaphosa has a case to answer in Parliament and should be held accountable.

EFF leader Julius Malema said the political parties will introduce a motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa in Parliament.

They want the motion to be held in secret.

The DA, however, has removed itself from the request for a motion of no confidence.

The official opposition said it was not the best route for the opposition to take while also seeking an ad hoc committee to be appointed.

African National Congress (ANC) heavyweights who campaigned against a second term for Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane as the party's provincial chairperson in May, got the chop on Tuesday.

Mabuyane announced a cabinet reshuffle in which Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe and Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Fezeka Nkomonye were given the boot.

The changes were announced at a media briefing on Tuesday.

Public Works MEC and MPL Babalo Madikizela, who resigned last week from both provincial government positions, was replaced by former Matatiele mayor Ntombovuyo Nkopane.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Xolile Nqatha moves to the transport and safety department to replace sacked MEC Tikana-Gxothiwe.

Human settlements MEC Nonceba Khontsiwe replaced Nkomonye as MEC for sport, arts and culture.

The shake-up came as pressure was mounting on Mabuyane from his supporters to remove MECs who did not back him when Madikizela contested for the provincial chairperson position against him at the Eastern Cape ANC elective conference in May.

Mabuyane defeated Madikizela by 150 votes to get a second term as ANC chairperson in the province.

Education MEC Fundile Gade can count himself very lucky as he escaped the chop despite having been a supporter of Madikizela.

Mabuyane announced the changes at a media briefing at Lilian Diedericks House at the ministerial residential village in Bhisho.

In a statement, Mabuyane said the developments in the provincial government were aimed at bolstering government performance and accelerating delivery on its programme of action.

As part of the shake-up, Mabuyane moved Social Development MEC Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi to the human settlements department.

News24 understands Mabuyane heeded calls to put a "highly-energetic" person with experience in the problem-plagued social development department.

Mani-Lusithi has been replaced by veteran MPL and ANC Women's League provincial task team convener Bukiwe Fanta.

The new faces in the cabinet are Fanta, newly sworn-in MPL Zolile Williams and Nkopane.

Mabuyane announced Williams as the new Cogta MEC.

Williams replaces Nqatha.

Nkopane is an ANC MPL and a former member of the provincial investigative task team which probed ANC list rigging allegations ahead of the 1 November municipal elections.

Nkomonye's sacking comes as a surprise to many as she has been receiving rave reviews for making strides in developing emerging artists in the province and reviving sport with fresh concepts.

In the new cabinet, only Nomakhosazana Meth and Gade managed to keep their positions as health and education MECs respectively.

Eastern Cape acting Judge President Selby Mbenenge swore in the members of the reshuffled cabinet.

"This team ticks the right boxes in terms of the requisite leadership skills, the 60-40 percent gender equity in favour of women MECs, and the geographic spread of the province. As you know, Mr Zolile Williams - who is now MEC for Cogta - was a serial achiever of clean audits at the Joe Gqabi District Municipality. His experience in the local government environment will certainly bring about improvements in audit outcomes and functioning of our municipalities," Mabuyane said about his new cabinet.

He said Williams had spent more than 20 years in local government and that his new department would benefit from his wealth of experience.

Mabuyane described Fanta as an activist for women's emancipation.

"We all know that the majority of the people who are serviced by social development are women, the elderly and children. We believe she is the right person currently to lead our efforts of serving our vulnerable groups. We have many families that live in poverty and inhumane conditions, with some headed by children. She will work with her team and NGOs to alleviate the plight of such families," said Mabuyane.

He said Nkopane would build on the solid foundation of an agile public works and infrastructure department, which had been established by former MEC M...

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu on Tuesday made final her proposal to raise the means test for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to R624 a month.

This means that anyone with a monthly income of more than R624 a month – which is the food poverty line – will not qualify for the grant. The maximum income level to qualify was set at R350 from 1 April, which caused large numbers of applicants to be disqualified. The new regulations were gazetted on Tuesday.

The SRD has been in place intermittently since May 2020, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. At first, all applicants with an income below R624 qualified with a total of 10.5-million people receiving the grant regularly. However, since the means test was dropped on 1 April less than 50% of applicants were successful, leading to 5.2-million people qualifying.

In response to pressure from pro-poor civil society and advocacy groups, Zulu announced a month ago that she intended to ease the criteria. The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), which administers the grant, also dropped an onerous condition that required bank pre-qualification, verifying income flows into bank accounts.

The agency has not released an updated report on the number of successful applicants.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will not be summonsed to appear before the Section 194 Committee handling Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's impeachment.

The committee made the decision after hearing a legal opinion on Tuesday.

Mkhwebane's counsel, advocate Dali Mpofu SC, at the start of the impeachment hearings last month, said he would call Ramaphosa as a witness.

Mkhwebane's attorneys subsequently wrote to Ramaphosa to invite him to testify before the committee, but the president declined.

Thereafter, they wrote to the committee to ask that it subpoena Ramaphosa.

According to the legal opinion received from parliamentary legal advisor, Fatima Ebrahim, only witnesses whose testimony will be relevant to the committee's work can be called – which is to determine whether Mkhwebane misconducted herself or is incompetent.

Several African National Congress MPs said they did not see the relevance of calling Ramaphosa as a witness.

Freedom Front Plus MP Corné Mulder concurred.

GOOD MP Brett Herron suggested that Mkhwebane provide the committee with a substantive motion on why Ramaphosa should be called.

Ebrahim said they already had such an opportunity, and she "struggled to unpack" what the request was about. She was concerned about opening a dialogue about the matter.

"Members have spoken; we are not asking the chair to subpoena the president," said committee chairperson, Qubudile Dyantyi.

The committee also decided not to recall former South African Revenue Service executives Johann van Loggerenberg and Ivan Pillay as witnesses.

The hearings will resume on Wednesday, with Public Protector human resources manager, Gumbi Tyelele, set to testify.

The new leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) in North West faces an uncertain future, and its newly elected chairperson could be forced out due to a culpable homicide charge still hanging over his head.

Former North West MEC for human settlement Nono Maloyi emerged victorious over Premier Bushy Maape at the North West ANC's ninth elective conference over the weekend.

Ahead of the election, there was a strong push for Maloyi not to contest for the position, with his critics citing a 2018 culpable homicide case that was provisionally withdrawn by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as grounds for him to step aside.

Branches in Bojanala, the ANC's biggest region in the North West, wrote to the interim provincial committee, requesting that Maloyi not be allowed to stand for election, given that the culpable homicide charge may still be reinstated.

They argued that the matter was not struck off the roll, meaning that Maloyi still faced the serious charge.

Maloyi told News24 it was unfortunate that his detractors "were trying to leverage an unfortunate situation for political gain".

"The ANC step-aside rule was meant to root out bad apples from the organisation and not to settle political scores," Maloyi said.

"The accident was an unforeseen and unfortunate incident. It was not corruption, money laundering, or any of the criminal acts that were meant to be rooted out by the step-aside policy."

He said that should ANC members in the province prioritise renewing the party and ensuring that the quality of leadership "was of high integrity", petty factional squabbles would not find their way into the ANC.

Maloyi added that if the ANC had been preoccupied with issues affecting communities, and not been entrenched in self-serving matters, the court cases, which had hampered the conference schedule, would not have happened.

Beyond the litigation that derailed progress at the conference, there were also allegations of security breaches, with "thugs" said to have stolen accreditation tags with the intention of infiltrating the conference.

ANC head of organising Nomvula Mokonyane said the "thugs", as she called them, had been caught in the act on camera.

There were also allegations of voting branch delegates being "manipulated".

Despite the numerous delays, Maloyi emerged as the provincial chairperson, defeating ANC veteran Maape by more than 90 votes.

Lazzy Mokgosi was elected deputy chairperson, amassing 353 votes, compared to Paul Sebegoe's 311 votes.

Current economic development MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi was defeated by Louis Diremelo for the position of provincial secretary, while Viola Motsumi was elected deputy secretary.

Community Safety and Transport MEC Sello Lehari was elected provincial treasurer.

In the early hours of Monday, the conference was still electing additional members of the provincial executive committee (PEC).

The rest of the conference programme is expected to be finalised in the next two weeks.

President Cyril Ramaphosa was advised not to attend the conference as North West's programme had not yet been concluded.

"We have since also advised President Cyril Ramaphosa that because the conference has not concluded its business, he should not come," chairperson of the national executive committee (NEC) deployees in North West, Obed Bapela, said.

"As you know, the president only closes the conference once all the work of the conference has happened, so we told him to no longer proceed to come to the venue," said Bapela.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) will hold a national strike on 24 August against the rising cost of living, fuel costs, and load-shedding, adding to labour formations planning demonstrations on that day.

"The national strike is in response to ongoing load-shedding, fuel price hikes, and escalating food prices," said a notice from Cosatu.

In October last year, Cosatu held a national strike over similar concerns, but the protest had little discernible impact. The federation also held a march in Cape Town protesting public transport costs earlier this month.

On Thursday, Cosatu will update the media on details and arrangements regarding the national strike.

The ANC-aligned labour federation will hold a national strike on the same day as the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), which the latter resolved to do at its Working Class Summit earlier this month.

At the time, Saftu secretary-general, Zwelinzima Vavi, said that while the federation should remain politically independent, it was prepared to work with other working-class formations to mobilise in the interest of workers.

Vavi used to be the secretary-general of Cosatu until he was expelled from the federation in 2015. He and the unions loyal to him left to eventually form Saftu in 2017.

Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said the similar dates of the Cosatu and Saftu demonstration were a "coincidence". However, he said the two federations are meeting on Wednesday to talk about "working together" in coordinating their respective demonstrations.