Leadership race heats up ahead of ANC regional conference
BRANCH members believe that leaders are being imposed on them ahead of the upcoming ANC Frances Baard regional conference.
While the conference was initially scheduled for April 11, a circular dated February 12 informed members that it would likely not go ahead due to the membership system being “offline for most of the time” and no branch general meetings had been convened.
Members were advised that the regional conference had to be held before the current term of the provincial executive committee (PEC) ends on May 11.
“Should the provincial conference be held beyond this date, the PEC will be dissolved and an interim leadership will have to be appointed. The PEC is committed to avoiding this outcome. While holding regional conferences after the provincial conference is not ideal, it is essential to avoid a scenario where the province lacks elected and recognised leadership. This can lead to instability and turmoil.”
Branch members claimed that the PEC instructed them to vote for ANC regional secretary Wende Marekwa as the new regional chairperson, Frances Baard mayor Nomdumiso Buda as the regional secretary, Magareng mayor Neo Mase as deputy chairperson, deputy regional secretary Mock Mocumi as deputy secretary, and Sol Plaatje executive mayor Martha Bartlett as regional treasurer.
They insisted that they should have the freedom to elect the leadership of their choice. Buda, current regional chairperson Mangaliso Matika and Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development, and Land Reform HOD advocate Thulani Binase were initially contesting.
Some volunteers have threatened to withhold their votes, believing that the regional conference is being postponed because there is not enough support for the “pre-selected candidates”.
Members also questioned why Matika was made to withdraw from the race after being appointed as MEC for the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture.
“We are unhappy over the trade-off. He should have still been allowed to contest. We were informed that Marekwa would bring unity to the party, but this will only deepen the divisions in the party,” they said.
Other members stated that Buda enjoyed huge support in the sub-regions.
“We will continue to unapologetically vote for her and are mobilising support for her because she listens to the people on the ground. She is the only one who can bring about change.”
Supporters of Binase believed that he would restore the dignity of the party and bring about unity.
The ANC in the Northern Cape did not respond to media enquiries.
