NEC rallies round Ramaphosa over Scopa probe

ANC MP who reported president suspended, faces disciplinary case

● Controversial ANC MP Mervyn Dirks faces disciplinary action after he broke ranks and called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to be subjected to a parliamentary probe over allegations that he knew about — and took no action against — the misuse of state funds for ANC campaigning.

The ANC national executive committee (NEC) has approved a national working committee (NWC) recommendation that disciplinary action be taken against Dirks in terms of the party’s constitution.

In addition, an NWC report that was adopted by the NEC meeting said: “The NWC noted with concern comments on social media by an ANC MP, Mervyn Dirks, appearing to pray for the demise of the president.”

Dirks, reacting to news that Ramaphosa had tested positive for Covid last month, had tweeted: “President Ramaphosa tested positive for Covid. God please hear our prayers and answer us with immediate affect [sic].”

The NWC said it had also noted a number of reports on Dirks’ actions and pronouncements that had the effect of bringing the ANC into disrepute.

“The office of the chief whip has indicated it will place Dirks on precautionary suspension pending the institution of [caucus] disciplinary proceedings against him for conduct unbecoming of a whip,” the NWC said.

NEC sources said the decision to discipline Dirks was unopposed, with no-one coming to his defence. Dirks is part of the anti-Ramaphosa grouping within the ANC.

Dirks wrote to the chair of parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), Mkhuleko Hlengwa, last month, asking that Ramaphosa be summoned to appear and reveal what he knows about misuse of public funds for party political activities.

He ignored ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina’s instruction to withdraw the letter, which led to Majodina placing him on precautionary suspension on Thursday and relieving him of his duties in parliament, including his membership of Scopa, where he is a whip. She also informed him of an intention to institute disciplinary proceedings.

But Scopa is ploughing ahead and has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday at which Dirks, as the complainant, will be afforded an opportunity to make his representations on the basis of his letter to Hlengwa.

Hlengwa announced on Friday that Dirks’ suspension was immaterial because the committee had already started an internal process. “The reported suspension of Mr Dirks has no material bearing on the matter at this point because the committee reserves the right to invite or summons any person to appear before it to provide information, evidence, or representation,” Hlengwa said.

“Furthermore, a withdrawal of the letter, if it were to arise, does not conclude the matter without due process as a report would still be required of the committee.”

The development has placed the ANC members of Scopa in a quandary as they have to choose between their parliamentary duties and Majodina, who wanted Dirks to withdraw his letter.

Two of them — Nokuzola Tolashe and Sakhumzi Somyo — declined to comment when asked about their plans and referred all questions to Majodina’s office. Other ANC members on the committee could not be reached for comment.

The spokesperson for the ANC caucus, Nomfanelo Kota, declined to comment.

A leaked recording of an ANC NEC meeting emerged towards the end of last year in which Ramaphosa can be heard saying: “One of the officials said as these people from the State Security [Agency] testify [at the state capture commission], one of the officials said soon they will be revealing about how money was used for some campaigns, and I said I would rather they say you got money from this business for CR17 than for the public to finally hear that their public money was used to advance certain campaigns.”

Dirks was previously in trouble for utterances and gestures he made in the National Assembly, and was found guilty of breaching the code of ethical conduct for MPs for a statement he posted on his Facebook page in which he referred to certain MPs as “dogs”.