ANC veteran Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is expected to appear before the party’s national disciplinary committee (NDC) on several counts of repeatedly defying the party line in parliament — the latest occasion being the vote to impeach public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
The Sunday Times understands that Dlamini-Zuma, minister in the Presidency for women, youth & people with disabilities, has been referred to the NDC along with former health minister Zweli Mkhize, former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo and former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane.
They are expected to be asked to explain why they voted in December last year for adoption of the section 89 report recommending an impeachment process for President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala scandal, when the party had instructed its MPs to vote against it.
They are being charged as repeat offenders because this year they again defied the party in a vote on the creation of an ad hoc committee to look into the Phala Phala saga.
More charges are expected to be brought against Dlamini-Zuma after she failed to show up in the National Assembly for the vote last week on impeaching Mkhwebane.
The party's secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, said before the latest vote that “only death” would be acceptable as a reason for an MP to be absent during the vote on Mkhwebane.
Dlamini-Zuma has not explained her absence to ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina or Mbalula. She had not responded to questions from the Sunday Times at the time of going to print.
Separately, the Sunday Times understands that Majodina has sent Luthuli House an assessment report on all 230 ANC MPs, detailing how they performed in the sixth administration.
The report is critical to the list process now under way and could dent the chances of Dlamini-Zuma and her three wayward comrades returning to parliament after next year's elections.
You can't have MPs you can't control, who don't follow instructions and defy you at every turn
— ANC insider
A senior ANC source who has seen the report said it excoriates the four senior MPs, especially Dlamini-Zuma, recommending they should either be removed from parliament immediately or be disqualified from the list process.
“The report would basically be saying that as much as there is a need for continuity and experienced senior leaders in parliament, these four should be exceptions,” the insider said. “You can't have MPs you can't control, who don't follow instructions and defy you at every turn.”
Majodina is said to have sent another report to Mbalula this week focusing on the vote on Mkhwebane, listing who was absent and what reason they gave. She told the Sunday Times the process regarding Dlamini-Zuma and the others was now in the hands of the secretary-general’s office but declined to comment further.
The ANC had not commented at the time of going to print.
Mbalula is believed to have told ANC MPs at a gathering in Gallagher Estate, Midrand, earlier this month that the four had been referred to the NDC.
A party source who attended the meeting said Mbalula expressed regret that this process had taken so long, but the party was still setting up the NDC structure and this had caused the delay.
An insider familiar with the process said it was a pity that Mahumapelo, who chairs the portfolio committee on international relations & co-operation, had allowed factional battles to overshadow his work in parliament.
“Supra is a good MP, he's very good at his job, dedicated and all, but he has allowed useless factionalism to distract him and now we have no choice but to process him accordingly,” the insider said.
Mahumapelo, Mkhize and Zwane toed the party line this week and voted to remove Mkhwebane as per party instructions. But in doing so they received flak from their supporters, who had expected them to defy the party again and support Mkhwebane.
Among the critics was expelled ANC member Carl Niehaus, who accused the three of being sell-outs.
Mahumapelo told the Sunday Times: “I’m not going to respond because it will keep the story alive. He [Niehaus] must win elections and come vote the way he likes.”
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