False accusations taint family

TO the president of the ANC.

Dear Mr President.

I am writing this letter after my father, Lawrence Troon, was found not guilty of all charges against him and therefore acquitted. The past five months since my father was wrongfully and maliciously charged by the ANC was a terrible experience for our family.

I will never forget the day my father appeared in headlines of The Herald dated June 3, "Rebel ANC councillors under fire". This day was surely the most terrible day in the history of our family.

I continuously had to defend my father among my friends and peers. My younger brother and sister were made fun of at school. This ordeal even affected their school work negatively.

We are very disappointed in the ANC as a family because my father worked very hard to build the ANC in Port Elizabeth. My dad promoted the ANC in the community, on radio stations and in newspapers, and now the ANC is calling him a rebel.

My father went five times to Bhisho for the disciplinary hearing and every time we were worried what news my father would bring home.

On Sunday my mother, brother, sister and I accompanied my father to get the verdict on the case.

All of us were relieved when my father showed us the letter saying that he was not guilty.

I want to know from the ANC what is it going to do about the people who falsely accused my father and tainted my dad's name? Are these people going to continue as if nothing is wrong or is the ANC going to expel them?

These people caused much trauma and hurt to our family.

Micah Troon, Aspen Heights, Port Elizabeth