North West ANC to brief media about Tlokwe issues

The North West ANC provincial executive committee will brief the media on Thursday about issues surrounding the Tlokwe municipality and upcoming party conferences. 

 

African National Congress provincial chairman Supra Mahumapelo was expected to speak about the October 23 by-elections in Tlokwe, and upcoming regional conferences, the provincial general council and a list conference.

 

The North West local government department announced the by-election date on Wednesday.

 

"This follows [the] Electoral Court ruling in Bloemfontein which ordered the IEC to request... the member of the executive council to postpone the by-elections in Wards One, Four, 11, 12 and 20 of the municipality," it said in a statement.

 

The court had heard an application by five independent candidates who were disqualified from taking part in the by-elections by the Independent Electoral Commission.

 

The ANC retained control of two of three wards in other by-elections in Tlokwe.

 

A by-election in Ward 13 was earlier postponed after an out-of-court settlement.

 

Fourteen ANC councillors were expelled from the party in July for participating in a motion of no confidence in then Tlokwe mayor Maphetle Maphetle. He was replaced by Democratic Alliance councillor Annette Combrink.

 

The ANC's national disciplinary committee subsequently overturned the expulsions, but the ANC nominated new candidates and some of the former councillors decided to stand against them as independent candidates.

 

-Sapa