ANC NEC meeting: Bathabile Dlamini could finally get the axe

ANC Women’s League President Bathabile Dlamini looks to be in big trouble with her party. Well, she is also in big trouble with the law too. Earlier this month, Dlamini was found guilty of perjury charges by the Johannesburg Magistrates court. Now that she has a criminal record, the ANC has some big decisions to make for her future. On Saturday afternoon, the party’s National Executive Committee is meeting to talk all about it.

What will the ANC NEC do with Bathabile Dlamini?

A multi-day ordinary ANC NEC meeting is currently underway. This weekend’s meeting is taking place virtually and is set to discuss a range of topics.

According to several reports, the 80 member body has already heard several presentations. This includes the state of the organisation report, as well as the president’s political overview.

The ANC Women’s League has been struggling under Dlamini’s leadership. Several provinces have been unable to grow their member base. At the same time, the league is fiercely criticised for its lack of action and focussing on factional politics.

A report from the Mail & Guardian recently revealed that the ANCWL had R10 million “vanish” from one of its trusts.

Aside from the party scandals, Dlamini has now been found to have lied under oath during a 2017 inquiry. The inquiry looked at the social grants saga that plagued the Social Security Agency, while Dlamini was Social Development Minister.

In 2018, the Constitutional Court found Dlamini’s conduct to have been “reckless and grossly negligent”.

The end of the road?

The ANC has a policy in place that requires those facing criminal charges to “step aside” or face suspension.

Dlamini’s conviction effectively means that she should immediately step away from the party’s NEC and Women’s League. She is yet to do so.

Several ANC insiders are pushing for the Women’s League to be dissolved. In its place, a new task team would be set up to re-grow the league.

The question remains, will Bathabile Dlamini make it through the weekend without being suspended by her party? If the ANC is serious, she really shouldn’t.