Babita Deokaran PPE corruption

BOKSBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 21: Gauteng Premier David Makhura addresses the media during the province’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Indaba at the Birchwood Hotel on November 21, 2017 in Boksburg, South Africa. Makhura said those who think talk of corruption was a distraction from the real issues and challenges facing the country were profoundly mistaken. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Mduduzi Ndzingi)

Makhura urges ANC members to stop taking the party to court

Makhura and Magashule sang the same tune at the ANC Gauteng conference.

Babita Deokaran PPE corruption

BOKSBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 21: Gauteng Premier David Makhura addresses the media during the province’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Indaba at the Birchwood Hotel on November 21, 2017 in Boksburg, South Africa. Makhura said those who think talk of corruption was a distraction from the real issues and challenges facing the country were profoundly mistaken. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Mduduzi Ndzingi)

Newly-elected ANC Gauteng chairman, David Makhura has urged party members not to run to the courts with matters of the organisation.

Makhura was elected into the seat unopposed in the Gauteng provincial conference which took place in the past weekend, where the ruling party’s secretary general, Ace Magashule expressed similar sentiments.

The Gauteng Premier warned party delegates that they are fighting a losing battle if they take the organisation to court.

”Please don’t go to court on political and organisational matters. We respect the courts. If you take us to court, we shall go there and win because we run the issues of the organisation according to the (ANC) constitution,” Makhura said.

”Let us not allow the enemies of the ANC and our revolution to fund your court actions, whose objective is to keep the ANC busy in courts, not busy on the ground serving the people.”

Makhura also issued out a warning that the party will soon be able to identify who exactly is funding court cases brought by party members against the organisation.

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The Gauteng provincial conference took place under a cloud of controversy after several members in Ekurhuleni applied for an interdict to halt the conference.

However, the high court bid was unsuccessful as it was dismissed by Judge Edwin Molahlehi on the eve of the conference.

Magashule spoke earlier during the congress, where he called on ANC members not to conduct themselves “the same as a member of the opposition”.

“What’s important is how we derive a common programme from the branch level up, to resolve the challenges facing our society,” Magashule said.

“The leadership role of our structures is not there for our selfish interests, but to serve at the best interest of the overwhelming majority of our people.”

Makhura echoed similar sentiments as he urged members to work towards uniting the party and doing away with lobby groups.

Read: David Makhura: New Gauteng ANC chair wants to stop his party’s EFF love-in