KIMBERLEY, NORTHERN CAPE — The ANC Northern Cape has officially expelled five councillors serving in the Sol Plaatje Municipality, enforcing strict disciplinary action just months before the local government elections. The provincial leadership confirmed that the mass dismissal was the result of a formal internal process that found the officials guilty of severe misconduct.
According to the party’s findings, the removed representatives violated the organization’s disciplinary code and acted in direct contradiction to its core values. The internal tribunal concluded that their actions brought the movement into disrepute by contravening established rules and procedures.
This disciplinary action significantly alters the political dynamics within the municipality. Currently, the ANC lacks an outright majority in the Sol Plaatje council and relies on a coalition partnership with the GOOD Party to maintain governance. Because the dismissals occur merely four months prior to the local government elections, electoral regulations dictate that the newly created council vacancies cannot be filled, leaving the coalition to navigate the remaining term with reduced numbers.
Despite the potential political fallout and the loss of seats in a tightly contested council, party leadership has dismissed concerns that the move will harm their electoral prospects. ANC provincial spokesperson Sandiseni Sithole firmly rejected the notion that removing the five representatives so close to voting day was a strategic misstep or would send a negative message to the electorate.
“No, I don’t think it was an incorrect decision to take towards local government elections and I don’t think it will be sending a wrong signal to our people,” Sithole stated, emphasizing that the proximity to the polls does not excuse the infractions. “Ill discipline is ill discipline and it doesn’t matter who does it at what time.”
By prioritizing its internal code of conduct over short-term political stability, the ANC Northern Cape is signaling a zero-tolerance approach to factionalism and rule-breaking as it heads into a highly competitive election cycle.