POLITICS

ANC expels Jonton Snyman

Party’s WCape PDC says the Boland secretary should have disclosed his criminal conviction

FINDING AGAINST CDE JONTON SNYMAN

The Provincial Disciplinary Committee (PDC) of the African National Congress, in the Western Cape, has made a finding in the disciplinary matter of the Provincial Executive Committee and Comrade Jonton Snyman, a member of the ANC who is also the Regional Secretary of the Boland.

However, before we proceed in pronouncing the decision of the PDC, of which both the ANC and Comrade Snyman and his representative has been informed, we must reiterate the fact that at all times it was the intention of the PDC, to ensure that the rights of Cde Snyman, as a member of the ANC, were upheld and guaranteed. In particular, the Constitution of the ANC espouses fairness and equity in its disciplinary processes. The PDC was therefore over cautious in ensuring that we were fair and equitable; we made sure that we were as accommodating as possible to guarantee the rights of the respondent in this matter.

At the same time, while strenuous in ensuring the rights of the Respondent in the matter, it is the duty of the ANC, as collective and as individual members, to make certain that the name and reputation of the ANC is kept intact. At all times, we are to ensure that the ANC is never brought into disrepute. Cognisant that this is the organization of Luthuli, Joseph, Tambo, Ngoyi, Mandela and First, it is incumbent on this Committee, and the ANC collective, to secure the dignity and reputation of the name of the ANC.

Therefore, after a hearing and deliberations, the PDC made a decision this morning, in respect of the alleged misconduct of Cde Snyman.

On 29 July 2015, the Provincial Secretary received a written complaint against Cde Snyman. Two days later, on 31 July 2015, the complaint was put to Cde Jonton Snyman who failed to formally respond thereto.

The Provincial Executive Committee then took a decision on 14 August 2015, in terms of the relevant rules of the ANC Constitution, to institute disciplinary proceedings against Cde Snyman, for the following acts of misconduct:

- Being convicted in a court of law for the offence of fraud, theft of money, corruption, money-laundering, racketeering or any other act of financial improprietary;

- Conviction in a court of law for any serious non-political offence;

- Behaving in a manner or making any utterance which brings or could bring or has the potential to bring or as a consequence thereof brings the ANC into disrepute;

- Undermining the respect for or impeding the functioning of any structure or committee of the ANC;

- Prejudicing the integrity or repute of the Organisation, its personnel or its operational capacity by:

i. impeding the activities of the Organisation; and

ii. doing any other act which undermines the ANC’s effectiveness as an organisation.

Given the evidence presented and witnesses heard, the PDC made the following decision:

In respect of the first charge, the PDC finds that the Respondent was found guilty as he had pled guilty to a charge of fraud on 28 October 2014 in the Worcester Magistrates Courted and was convicted, and sentenced, as such; and,

The PDC thus found that Cde Snyman had brought the Organisation into disrepute as he had failed to disclose his criminal conviction before and during the Boland Regional Conference to the Organisation, which resulted in him being elected as an office bearer and through the publishing of an article in Die Son which has negatively affected the reputation of the ANC.

The ANC expects its members, especially when elected to office and to lead in various structures of the organization, to be honest at all times, especially when the reputation of the ANC is at stake. In fact, the Constitution places, as a duty, the onus on all its members to observe discipline and behave honestly. It was incumbent on Cde Snyman, who was standing for quite a senior position in the ANC, to disclose this conviction, especially given its gravity in terms of both the country and the organization, in particular.

Our public representatives, but more so, our elected organizational leaders, who are the ones who are to keep public representatives accountable, must at all times be beyond reproach. In fact, Cde Snyman was guilty of a serious crime and the PDC did not have to make a finding in respect of this, as the Worcester Magistrates court had already done so.

It is a pity therefore that this matter had to be exposed the way that it was and the negative effects it has had on the organization, especially in the Boland, is damaging, if not costly, given that we are facing Local Government Elections next year.

The Constitution of the ANC, given the gravity of the conviction in the Worcester Magistrates’ Court, is explicit in the sanction that is to be imposed on Cde Snyman. In fact, the Constitution does not allow the PDC to be discretionary in its sanction and is prescriptive.

The Constitution, and therefore the PDC, imposes the sanction that the Respondent, Cde Snyman, is ineligible to remain a member of the African National Congress and is herewith expelled from the ANC.

Conscious of the rights of the respondent, among others to appeal this finding within 21 days and should he so wish to exercise this right of appeal, the Provincial Secretary, acting on the authority of the PEC, shall suspend the membership of Cde Snyman until the finalisation of such appeal or review proceedings.

The PDC also decided that any new application, by Cde Snyman, should be submitted to the PEC for consideration but only after two years have elapsed from the date of his expulsion.

The PDC wishes to reiterate that ANC members are expected to act honestly at all times as obliged by the ANC Constitution. In this particular matter the image of the ANC was brought into disrepute which could have been avoided. Therefgore the PDC will at all times act swiftly on any matter where the ANC is brought into disrepute.

We once again appeal to all our members to act in a disciplined manner and behave, at all times, honestly so as not to cause harm to the dignity of this noble organization, the African National Congress.

Issued by Khaya Magaxa on behalf of the WCape ANC Provincial Disciplinary Committee, 13 October 2015