Former ANC Eastern Cape treasurer Thandiswa Marawu is weighing up the possibility of defecting to the African Transformation Movement (ATM) because she says she toes the church line.
She said whatever they were told to do by apostle Ceaser Nongqunga, the head of the Twelve Apostles Church in Christ (TACC) and brains behind the ATM, they do in a heartbeat without question.
“When apostle said we must vote for the ANC, we did without questioning.
“Now he says the church has cut ties with the ANC, and so as loyal church members we have no choice but to follow suit – no questions asked,” the former public works MEC said.
Should Marawu make the move, it would be seen as a great feat for the ATM as she was in charge of the ruling party’s purse for two terms, while also serving as an MEC.
Marawu’s comments come after a video of her dancing along with women clad in ATM regalia went viral at the weekend.
But ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi warned Marawu not to play with fire, as they might be forced to expel her from the ANC.
“She knows when you decide to join any other political party that operates contradictory and in hostility to the ANC and allies, you automatically expel yourself,” Ngcukayitobi said.
Marawu defended herself, saying even though all other women in the video were wearing ATM T-shirts, “I am not in ATM regalia”.
“But in the same breath, that does not mean that I am not considering making serious decisions about my political career,” Marawu said.
She blamed factionalism within the ANC as one of the main reasons the church had decided to cut ties with it.
“The factionalism and violence in today’s ANC makes one wonder whether as staunch church members who are preaching peace, we are at the right place,” she said.
“Those are the questions Tat’uNongqunga wanted to ask ANC leaders, but no-one listened.”
Should Marawu join the ATM, she would join the likes of Mzwanele Manyi, the former cabinet spokesperson, and former DA provincial chair and MPL Veliswa Mvenya.
Journalist and gospel singer Zama Ntshona has also joined the party and was announced as its spokesperson.
“The ATM project will not fail,” Ntshona said.
“With its approach in politics, being placed where the people are, as well as having the numbers that it has, securing our seats is definite.”
Marawu said as a long-serving TACC member, she had been part of meetings at which Nongqunga had publicly announced his interest in meeting President Cyril Ramaphosa and his ANC officials, but such a meeting had never materialised.