ActionSA in the North West has been rocked by divisions as a group of concerned members try to oust the party’s Provincial Chairperson Kwena Mangope, who in turn suspended members of the provincial executive committee (PEC).
The matter has been brought to the attention of ActionSA national leadership including its President Herman Mashaba and National Chairperson Michael Beaumont.
Mangope, who is the son of late Bophuthatswana strongman Lucas Mangope, suspended Provincial Secretary Andrew Pheto earlier this month.
He accused Pheto of acting to undermine the hard work and dedication of ActionSA members and leaders.
”I expect you to immediately cease any further unauthorised activities and to fully cooperate with the party's established structures,” Mangope, who is ActionSA’s sole member in the North West provincial legislature, wrote to Pheto last week.
According to correspondence seen by the Sunday Independent, Mangope said Pheto should refrain from bringing the party into disrepute and causing disunity within the party.
He should also stop misrepresenting the true state of affairs regarding any official pronouncement or documents submitted to the party. ”I would like to underline that ActionSA North West does not have dissatisfied members or a “Save the North West Campaign”.
This is an alien culture in our party that you insidiously intend to introduce into ActionSA's democratic culture to muddy the waters,” Mangope said.
He said Pheto was allowed by the country’s constitution to freely conduct the "Save the North West Campaign" outside ActionSA structures, as it had nothing to do with the party.
ActionSA members, who are part of the Save the North West Campaign accused Mangope, a retired SA National Defence Force brigadier-general, of adopting a dictatorial leadership approach and not allowing dissenting views at meetings.
”The (king’s) leader’s word is final: This has totally destroyed the party in the province. Rebuilding party structures is necessary across all regions of the province,” the members’ complaint read.
In addition, they said Mangope had appointed his wife to immediately assume responsibility for funds ahead of the May 29 national and provincial elections and established a PEC based in Gauteng composed of residents of the province, who were making decisions on behalf of the North West membership.
Several ActionSA members in the North West said to be part of the "Save the North West Campaign", were suspended this week by Mangope.
”I've taken the decision that all ActionSA North West PEC members on the "Save NW Campaign" list be suspended forthwith, by invoking ActionSA's interim constitutional provisions,” he wrote.
Mangope told the new provincial secretary Motsamai Mutloane to coordinate the suspensions as soon as possible and gave him strict timelines.
“I herewith direct you critically, without fear or favour, to deliberate on the advisability of my decision, pros and cons. I await your decision in this regard on or before 18 August 2024,” he said, urging Mutloane to avail himself for in-depth and robust deliberations on the matter.
Mangope said he wished to have suspension notices served on the affected PEC members by Tuesday, August 20.
In response, Mutloane expressed concern that ActionSA had in its midst potentially dangerous members, who were allegedly working with the "Save the NW Province" cabal.
”Because that's what it is a cabal/faction. ActionSA does not encourage cabalistic behaviour in all members as this causes undesired divisions in structures.
“Factionalism should be discouraged in every way possible!
“It is imperative to protect the integrity of the party through conventional and even unconventional methods,” he added.