Former Western Cape community safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane has quit the ANC, saying some of its members have been treated "worse than beggars" since last year's Polokwane conference.

He told Sapa on Wednesday he intended to "get involved" in debate on Terror Lekota's proposed national convention, to be held in Bloemfontein on 2 November.

"I have quit the ANC. I haven't joined anything else," he said.

"There is a national debate about the national convention which obviously as an activist I will get involved in that national debate.

"I'm going to be participating in this debate. Whatever comes out of the convention is another matter."

He said in a statement that the decision had been hard and painful, as he had been a member of the ANC all his political life.

He also said ANC membership in the faction-ridden Western Cape had become a burden to the leadership of the ANC.

"Hence, there is a wish by the leadership that the ANC should lose this province and that such a loss would be a welcome relief."

Ramatlakane quit his MEC's position in July this year, following the sacking of premier Ebrahim Rasool.

At the time, he said he was weary of constant attacks on him and his department.

His resignation from the party follows the public resignation last week of a number of other prominent ANC members in the province, including the leader of the party caucus in the Cape Town city council, Mbulelo Ncedana.

Sapa