Pietermaritzburg-based ANC MP Mervyn Dirks, MK Party Colour.Photo provided
Mervyn Dirks, an ANC member of the Pietermaritzburg-based provincial parliament (MPL) and former deputy mayor of the city, has been expelled for aligning himself with former president Jacob Zuma's party, Umkhonto Wisizwe (MK). He became the first prominent member of the ruling party to be elected. meristematic tissue.
Mr Dirks, who was seen wearing MK party colors during a meeting of the newly established political organization in Maconk, Pietermaritzburg, received a letter from ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo on Monday, confirming the ANC KwaZulu party. He informed the Natal Provincial Parliament MPL that his membership as a member of the ruling party has been revoked. It has been terminated.
“This letter is helpful. [to inform you] The letter said you were expelled from the African National Congress for joining another political party and violating regulation 25.17.13 of the ANC Constitution.
Mr Dirks, a former Msunduzi deputy mayor, was recently transferred from the ANC parliamentary group to the KZN provincial parliament amid clashes with the ruling parliamentary group leadership.
In 2017, Dirks, then an ANC MP in Cape Town, was accused of insulting and threatening to assault fellow ANC MP Thozama Mantashe.
That same year, Dirks was kicked out of parliament for giving the middle finger to an opposition lawmaker.
Dirks denied insulting Mantashe or threatening to assault him, but said he gave the middle finger after being provoked by an opposition lawmaker.
Dirks, who was a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) during his time in parliament, also angered ANC party leaders when he called for Scopa to investigate President Cyril Ramaphosa. In his complaint to Scopa, Mr Dirks accused Mr Ramaphosa of having information showing that government funds were being used to finance the ANC's internal campaign finances.
According to Dirks' complaint, Ramaphosa failed to provide information to law enforcement as required by law.
He was suspended by the ANC in parliament and recalled to represent Scopa.
In a letter dated February 25, Mr Mutolo informed Mr Dirks that he would no longer be allowed to continue to serve as an ANC MP in the KZN parliament.
“You will no longer represent the ANC as a public representative in the KZN parliament,” Mr Mutolo said.
ANC provincial spokesperson Mafika Mndebele declined to comment on Dirks' dismissal letter, but said the ANC would “take a firm stand” against members who “collaborated with rival parties”.
Mr Dirks confirmed that he had received the letter from Mr Mutolo and insisted he remained an ANC member and MPL.
“I am who I am today because of the ANC. I grew up in the ANC. The ANC has done nothing wrong to me and I will never leave the party. I am a member. It is the Ramaphosa ANC who are arrogant and busy with what we call neoliberal policies. I will work day and night to ensure the defeat of Ramaphosa's ANC in the next election. We will do our best for the MK Party's victory.”
This article first appeared in The Witness.
