ANC elective conference delayed
EASTERN Cape ANC bosses are targeting the end of next month as the new date for the long-awaited Nelson Mandela Bay elective conference, as branches failed to meet the party’s constitutional requirements to be able to elect new leaders. In order to convene the conference, 70% of the ANC’s Bay branches must hold properly constituted, verified general meetings. ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the 70% threshold had not been met because the regional task team – appointed by President Jacob Zuma – was not always available and hands-on in trying to rebuild the branches. “We need leadership in Nelson Mandela Bay,” he said. The structure was limping in terms of political authority in the region. “It’s a concerning challenge that they are not always available. Some are out of town, or have other jobs that keep them from being completely available.” The ANC had targeted this month to hold its elective conference. Mabuyane said there was “a lot of rebuilding” taking place to rid the party of the gate-keeping phenomenon. Gate-keeping is a trend in which some members try to limit the membership growth in their branches in order to manipulate election outcomes. “We met at the provincial executive committee meeting on Monday and it was decided that the region is not yet ready for a conference,” Mabuyane said.
“We don’t want to rush it. We want everything to be transparent and above board. “There are a lot of challenges and we want to ensure that no one who is in good standing is excluded. “We need all branches to hold their general meetings and they must be verified,” Mabuyane said. Earlier this week, there was confusion over who on the ANC’s Bay councillor list would replace late PR councillor Nomamfene Quluba. While Umkhonto we Sizwe veteran Lindokuhle Vika turned up at Monday’s council meeting ready to be sworn in as a councillor, there was talk that Bay ANC Youth League chairman Xolani Mgxotheni would get the job. Vika sat through the council meeting in the public gallery waiting to be sworn in, but was later sent home because of delays in declaring his appointment with the IEC. Vika said yesterday he had been told by chief whip Litho Suka’s office to attend the council meeting to be sworn in. “They are going to inform me later today when I must do the oath,” he said. Mabuyane said he had written a letter to the ANC to say Vika must be prioritised. But Mgxotheni said: “If I happen to be [a councillor] as a cadre of the ANC, I will accept the responsibility. This is not about me, but about the organisation.” ANC regional task team member Thobile Mhlahlo said Vika was next on the list to be a councillor and anyone else being chosen to replace Quluba would be a gross violation of ANC processes.
