ANC Eastern Cape bosses are expected to announce the Nelson Mandela Bay Regional Task Team (RTT) later today after a decision to disband the Bay structure was upheld in King Williams Town on Sunday.
The new team, to help rebuild the ANC in the city, will be led by former regional chairman and ex-Bay mayor Nceba Faku, with Babalwa Lobishe – a former Bay councillor and REC member – as the coordinator.
Some of the old faces – who were part of the REC disbanded by former president Jacob Zuma in 2015 – will be making a comeback at Florence Matomela House, among them Wandisile Jikeka (former treasurer) who will be the party’s finance secretary.
The announcement of the RTT today follows a meeting at Calata House on Sunday where the former REC was informed of the decision to uphold the move to disband the structure.
Those who attended the meeting, but spoke on condition of anonymity, said the meeting at Calata had been attended by about 18 members of the now disbanded REC.
Former Bay secretary Themba Xathula did not attend.
“We were all invited as REC members and we told of that we were disbanded. We were given a correspondence from [ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte].“
We were also told that the reason behind the people on the list was so to accommodate various factions and also some members from the northern areas,” the insider said.
Additional RTT members on the list are: Vuyokazi Dapo, Gamalihleli Maqula (ANC councillor), Nondumiso Maphazi (former Bay mayor), Mazwi Mini (former Bay councillor), Bicks Ndoni (chief whip of council), Buyelwa Mafaya (speaker of council), Veliswa Ndidi (former Bay councillor), Nomvuselelo Tontsi (former Bay councillor), JP Pretorius, Mark Beale, Betty Ncanywa, Mabuti Dano, Gege Mbikane, Mthiwabo Ndube, Ncediso Captain (ANC councillor), Nodoli Jodwana, Feziwe Sibeko (former Bay councillor), Itumeleng Ranyele (ANC councillor), Vuyo Toto, Phumeza Mpushe (ANC MPL), Yoliswa Pali (ANC councillor), Thobile Mhlahlo, Tony Duba (ANC MPL), Nomsa Booi (Bay councillor), Tamara Xhanti (ANC MPL), Eugene Johnson and Lawrence Troon (former ANC councillor.