ANC veteran Thami ka Plaatjie leaves party, set to return to PAC

ANC veteran Thami ka Plaatjie has allegedly left the governing party and is set to return to his former political home, the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).

Africa Daily has reliably learnt and understands that Plaatjie is expected to be officially unveiled during the PAC’s media briefing on Monday, where the party is due to announce leaders joining it from other political organisations ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

According to the invitation circulated by the PAC, Monday’s briefing will also focus on the party’s election preparations, the announcement of its mayoral candidates and the launch of its election manifesto.

When approached for comment, Plaatjie declined to confirm or deny the move, saying he did not want to pre-empt the party’s planned announcement.

“Greetings. The PAC has planned a press conference scheduled for Monday. Let’s engage thereafter. I don’t want to pre-empt them. Regards.”

A return to the PAC would mark a full-circle moment in Plaatjie’s political career.

He spent 26 years in the PAC, rising through its ranks to serve as secretary-general between 2002 and 2004.

However, internal divisions culminated in his temporary expulsion before a leadership dispute with then PAC president Letlapa Mphahlele eventually resulted in a split within the organisation.

Following a High Court ruling preventing his faction from using the PAC name, logo and colours, Plaatjie co-founded the Pan Africanist Movement (PAM) in late 2008 and became its first president.

He resigned from PAM in December 2009 after the party failed to gain traction in the general election and subsequently joined the ANC in 2010.

Africa Daily approached the ANC for comment on whether it had been informed of Plaatjie’s reported departure and the reasons provided for his decision. The party acknowledged receipt of the enquiry and indicated it would respond.

At the time of publication, its comment had not yet been received.