Key Takeaways:
- The ANC Johannesburg conference has been marred by controversy, with a losing candidate lodging a formal complaint about the electoral process.
- Dada Morero, the losing candidate, alleges a conflict of interest between the election agency and the winning candidate, Loyiso Masuku.
- Morero claims that the owner of the election agency is an employee of the City of Johannesburg and works under Masuku.
- The ANC provincial task team has been asked to respond to the complaints and clarify the appointment process of the electoral committee.
- The ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, has confirmed receipt of Morero’s letter and has forwarded it to the ANC’s elections commission.
Introduction to the Controversy
The African National Congress (ANC) Johannesburg conference, held last month, has been hit by further controversy. A losing candidate, Dada Morero, has lodged a formal complaint about the electoral process, alleging a conflict of interest between the election agency and the winning candidate, Loyiso Masuku. Morero, who is the mayor of Johannesburg, has written to the Gauteng provincial task team co-ordinator, Hope Papo, and the ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, raising concerns about the electoral committee that oversaw the conference.
Allegations of Conflict of Interest
Morero claims that the owner of the election agency, Noluthando White, is an employee of the City of Johannesburg and works under Masuku. This, he argues, constitutes a conflict of interest and undermines the integrity of the electoral process. Morero also alleges that White’s recruitment was overseen by Masuku, and that she serves as a media specialist within his office. He has called for an investigation into the matter, citing the need for clarity on the appointment process of the electoral committee and the potential for manipulative practices.
Response from the Election Agency
A relative of Noluthando White, Nkuli White, has dismissed the allegations of conflict, stating that the company was appointed properly and that there is no relationship between the owner of the election agency and Masuku. Nkuli White also pointed out that her relative had resigned as a director of the company in September 2021, and that the allegations of a strategically timed resignation to conceal a conflict of interest are false.
ANC Response
The ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, has confirmed receipt of Morero’s letter and has forwarded it to the ANC’s elections commission, chaired by former ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe. Mbalula has stated that the complaints are being attended to, but has declined to comment further, citing the need to avoid prejudice in case of potential litigation. He has also clarified that the police involvement in the matter is limited to safekeeping and not necessarily an investigation.
Background to the Complaint
Morero’s complaint comes weeks after Mbalula wrote to Papo in December, instructing him to hand over all Johannesburg conference-related material to the police with immediate effect. Mbalula stated that the directive followed a number of complaints received by his office regarding the conference. The complaints relate to various aspects of the electoral process, including the public announcement by the electoral committee that it had replaced a male member elected in the regional executive committee (REC) with a female to address gender parity.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding the ANC Johannesburg conference highlights the need for transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The allegations of conflict of interest and potential manipulative practices undermine the integrity of the process and raise questions about the credibility of the outcome. The ANC provincial task team and the elections commission must respond to the complaints and provide clarity on the appointment process of the electoral committee to restore confidence in the democratic processes of the party.