File picture: Reuters, Siphiwe Sibeko
DISCONTENTED ANC members intend to boycott the branch general meetings (BGMs), which are taking place from February 18 to March 10 to elect delegates to vote in the new regional leadership, as they do not support the leadership that is being “imposed” on them.
The regional conference is expected to take place from March 21 to 23 at Rekaofela Resort in Barkly West.
Branch members stated that they were instructed to elect ANC regional secretary Wende Marekwa as the new regional chairperson, Frances Baard mayor Nomdumiso Buda as the regional secretary, Magareng mayor Neo Mase for deputy chairperson, deputy regional secretary Mock Mocumi for deputy secretary and Sol Plaatje executive mayor Martha Bartlett as regional treasurer.
The regional task team has meanwhile resolved to keep Zamani Saul as ANC provincial chairperson, Bentley Vass as deputy chairperson, Deshi Ngxanga as provincial secretary, Maruping Lekwene as provincial deputy secretary and Fufe Makatong as provincial treasurer.
ANC Frances Baard regional convenor Mangaliso Matika resigned from the interim regional executive committee last week, following his appointment as the MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture. He is not expected to make himself available for any position in the upcoming regional conference.
ANC members stated that a meeting in the Dikgatlong sub-region was purposefully disrupted by inebriated members on Wednesday, as the voting district did not support the imposed leadership.
“A fight broke out and an old lady was hit with a beer bottle,” they said.
ANC branch secretaries and chairpersons alleged that members were being paid up to R10,000 to vote certain individuals into power.
“It is already a done deal and voting will be a mere formality. There are discrepancies with the membership and delegate lists and the verification process. Conference guidelines are being blatantly disregarded and scanners are not working. We want delegates to vote for the leadership of their choice.”
Dissatisfied branches called for the postponement of the BGMs and the bi-annual branch general meetings (BBGMs) in the Frances Baard region.
“Branches are severely under-resourced and under-prepared. To impose arbitrary deadlines on these branches is to risk further alienating our membership, exacerbating disillusionment, and undermining the very foundations of the ANC. The regional task team must understand that the challenges facing these branches are systemic issues rooted in neglect and insufficient support from regional and provincial leadership.”
ANC provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga said that the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC) had endorsed a road map for the regional and provincial conferences.
“The ANC in the Northern Cape remains committed to upholding the principles of democratic participation and transparent leadership selection processes at all levels of the organisation,” said Ngxanga.
He said the greatest task was to ensure that ANC members in good standing remained disciplined and adhered to the ANC code of conduct at all times.
“All ANC members are urged to desist from bringing the name of the ANC in disrepute on matters pertaining to leadership preferences ahead of the much anticipated regional and provincial conferences.”
He gave the assurance that the upcoming regional conferences would proceed in a manner that allowed branches to freely nominate and elect leaders of their choice.
“The PEC has not issued directives to impose any candidates on branches. The lobby season is open but what is important is that this process is purely led by the branches.”
Ngxanga added that the decision to deploy Matika as MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture and Limakatso Koloi as MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison was not a “knee-jerk” reaction.
“The deployments are informed by the need to strengthen and bring about governance efficiencies, with the sole aim of improving the lives of our people. It is a total misrepresentation of the truth that a comrade was requested to serve only to disengage him from the political life of the region,” he stated.