The ANC’s Electoral Committee said it has been able to reach out to the author of the purported letter, Thabang Mdletshe, who has distanced himself from the contents of the letter alleging there was vote-buying at the party’s 55th National Conference in Nasrec.
Regional secretary Musa Nciki said: “We didn’t know anything about it until I called Thabang Mdletshe, the author yesterday to ask him about the letter. He distanced himself from the letter and told me he was put under pressure.”
On Monday, a letter allegedly written by eThekwini ward 30 branch member and delegate, Thabang Mdletshe, accused President Cyril Ramaphosa, chairperson Gwede Mantashe, and Bejani Chauke of having used money to buy delegates to the conference.
Despite acknowledging the allegations in Mdletshe’s letter, Chief Matsila, spokesperson for the Electoral Committee, told SABC news that the alleged author has distanced himself from the letter. He said the allegation and the letter had been identified as fake after he had spoken to Mdletshe on Tuesday evening.
“We have reached out to comrade Thabang regarding the letter via WhatsApp and SMS, but he has since distanced himself from the letter. However, we still take these allegations in serious light. The branch delegates went to the conference and voted; some candidates won and others lost. All the leaders of the structures are happy with the outcomes of the conference.
“There is nothing to worry about, but we know that there are comrades who are bad losers are the ones responsible for trying to create false stories. This is not the first nor the last time such has happened,” Matsila said.
Ramaphosa’s faction won by almost a clean sweep beating former health minister Zweli Mkhize by more than 500 votes.
Nciki said he is waiting for Mdletshe to disclose who put him under pressure to make the damning allegations.
Source: IOL, Times Live, Jacaranda FM, image from Twitter: @_AfricanSoil