The African National Congress (ANC) has reiterated its expectation that party leaders maintain and uphold the organization’s core values, following the court appearance of a Free State mayor on assault charges.
The mayor appeared in the Wesselsbron Magistrate’s Court facing charges of common assault after allegedly verbally and physically attacking her driver. Voice notes purportedly capturing the mayor insulting her driver subsequently circulated on social media, prompting concern from party leadership.
The ANC deputy provincial secretary, addressing media in Bloemfontein, stated that the content shared online has the potential to negatively impact the party’s image and has raised serious eyebrows within the organization. He emphasized that leaders are expected to uphold the highest standards of conduct consistent with the movement’s values and the principles of organizational renewal. Given the seriousness of the allegations, the ANC confirmed it will process the matter through its constitutional and disciplinary structures and consider appropriate precautionary measures in accordance with organizational prescripts.
The party also provided an update on the reconfiguration of seven municipalities in the Free State province. Officials acknowledged delays in the process, attributing them to resistance from some municipal leaders regarding redeployment. The deputy provincial secretary stated that deployees have been given clear marching orders, and the provincial office has reinforced its monitoring tools to track progress. This includes ensuring that the “war room” mechanism for addressing service delivery matters is properly enforced. A key priority remains addressing issues raised by the Auditor-General and the portfolio committee concerning maladministration in municipalities.
On immigration, the deputy chairperson of the ANC in the Free State called on South Africans to refrain from exacerbating immigration challenges by harboring undocumented foreign nationals. He urged property owners to verify the documentation status of tenants operating businesses from their properties, stating that collective effort is needed to address the presence of undocumented individuals. He reiterated that harboring or employing individuals without proper documentation constitutes a criminal offense.
Additionally, the ANC addressed the postponement of the Mangaung regional conference, confirming that leadership will reconvene on Monday to discuss and set a suitable new date for the gathering.
The statements were delivered during a media briefing held by the Free State ANC in Bloemfontein, covering several pressing issues emanating from recent events in the province.
