“The only acceptable explanation for missing the vote on the appointment of public protector Kholeka Gcaleka is if you are dead.”
This is the stern warning from ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula to MPs during a caucus meeting in Johannesburg on Friday.
Mbalula issued a three-line whip — telling the caucus that the ANC expects all its 230 MPs to be in parliament on September 11 for the vote that day, and that they should all support the report recommending that Gcaleka be appointed as the new public protector.
The National Assembly is due to vote on the section 189 report on the removal of Busisiwe Mkhwebane and the appointment of Gcaleka, who has been acting in the role during Mkhwebane’s suspension.
Mkhwebane’s removal requires a two-thirds majority of the 400-seat house — 267 votes — while the appointment of Gcaleka requires 60%, or 240 votes.
The ANC is expecting the report on Mkhwebane to be passed with ease as almost all parties save for the EFF and the African Transformation Movement support her removal.
On Gcaleka, the ANC expects the IFP, Al Jama-ah, GOOD and other smaller parties to vote in support of her appointment. Only 10 additional votes would be required if all 230 ANC MPs vote, and vote as instructed.
Mbalula told the caucus that he will not accept any explanation for missing the vote.
“He told us that he needs all 230 members of the ANC to be in parliament on the day and that no-one will give an excuse unless that person is dead,” said an ANC MP who attended the meeting at Gallagher Estate.
Mbalula and ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina declined to comment.
Insiders said Mbalula also took a swipe at the four MPs — including Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Zweli Mkhize — who defied party instructions in December last year that MPs should vote to reject the Phala Phala impeachment report.
The secretary-general said he would be watching them closely this time around, the insiders said.
The Sunday Times has previously reported that the ANC initiated a process of charging the four: Mkhize, who quit as health minister under a cloud last year; Dlamini-Zuma, who is now minister in the Presidency responsible for women, children & people with disabilities; former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo; and former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane.
He said that if it means parting ways with those who defy, so be it. He was clear that there are those who have defied the party twice before and that they’ve been referred to the NDC
— ANC insider
The Sunday Times understands Mbalula told the caucus that the four have been referred to the party’s national disciplinary committee (NDC) and will be hauled over the coals for being “repeat offenders” on the Phala Phala vote. They ignored instructions to oppose adoption of the section 89 report recommending an impeachment process for President Cyril Ramaphosa, and defied the party again in a vote this year on the creation of an ad hoc committee to look into the scandal.
Mbalula told the meeting on Friday it was unfortunate that the organisation had taken such a long time to act on these “ill-disciplined members”, one insider said.
“He issued a stern warning that come September 11, ‘You dare vote your own way, you will meet us.’ He said that if it means parting ways with those who defy, so be it. He was clear that there are those who have defied the party twice before and that they’ve been referred to the NDC to act on their ill discipline.”
According to the insiders, the caucus gave Mbalula a standing ovation.
Majodina is said to have told the caucus that her political assessment report on the party’s MPs was complete and had been sent to Luthuli House. The report has a bearing on the list process currently under way and could dent the chances of the four out-of-favour MPs returning to parliament after the elections next year.
Majodina has previously told the Sunday Times she had submitted two reports relating to the conduct of Mkhize, Dlamini-Zuma, Mahumapelo and Zwane to Mbalula.
The ANC instructed its MPs to vote against the impeachment report in December, and most of them did so.
But Mkhize, Dlamini-Zuma, Mahumapelo and Zwane went against the party by either voting in favour of the report’s adoption or being absent during the crucial vote.
Majodina said there was evidence that the four did not carry out a party mandate on two occasions. “That is not an allegation; they must be processed. Each member in each party [must] toe the party line,” she said. "[They] are repeat offenders on [the] Phala Phala matter.”
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