Dr Zweli Mkhize was endorsed by the Amathole region in the Eastern Cape. Picture: Nqobile Mbonambi/ Africannewsagency (ANA)
THE DISBANDED ANC’s Amathole regional leadership in the Eastern Cape said they believed they were being punished by Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s provincial executive committee (PEC) for endorsing Dr Zweli Mkhize instead of Cyril Ramaphosa for the president’s position at the upcoming conference.
Mabuyane is a known Ramaphosa ally and has been nominated to contest for the deputy president’s position alongside Ramaphosa.
Speaking to the DFA’s sister publication the Daily News on Tuesday, the Amathole regional spokesperson, Thabo Matiwane, labelled the PEC decision as “factional and irrational” and said the regional leadership’s sin was to support Mkhize and his running mate, Phumulo Masualle, for the secretary-general position.
Matiwane said the manner in which their disbandment was handled clearly showed it was a political purge, adding that it was communicated to the regional leadership via a media briefing, which he said was foreign to the party.
He said that under normal circumstances the provincial leadership was supposed to call them into a meeting and inform them before going to the media.
He stated that by Tuesday they had not yet received any official communication about their disbandment.
On hearing about the pending disbandment, the regional executive committee (REC) responded by calling an urgent meeting on Monday, where it resolved to appeal the decision.
He said the PEC had been angry with the regional leadership for failing to attend the Letsema programme – a party mobilisation programme – which was addressed by Ramaphosa recently in the region. He added that the provincial leadership had accused them of snubbing the president.
In the programme, the regional chairperson, Khanyile Maneli , was listed to give a welcoming address but he did not come and no one from the REC welcomed the president.
Matiwane denied the chairperson had snubbed the president, saying he did not come because he was not well.
The region also supported Babalwa Madikizela, who lost to Mabuyane during the provincial conference in May, which Matiwane said they were still being harassed for.
“The disbandment of the REC has been orchestrated by the PEC emanating from the provincial conference wherein Amathole region did not prefer the incumbent leadership,” said Matiwane.
“The REC resolved to lodge a complaint to the national office following the inexplicable conduct of the PEC in the past days, which include the mobilisation of resignations from some REC members resulting in only six of 24 members who resigned, the convening of three subregions by PEC to mobilise a vote of no confidence, the premeditated statement by PEC members announcing a planned dissolution of the ANC REC in a cadres forum of the women’s league, and non-adherence of the PEC in implementing decisions of the NDCA,” said Matiwane.
By canvassing members to resign from the REC, Matiwane said the PEC wanted to justify the disbandment because it would mean that the regional leadership was dysfunctional, but, unfortunately for them, only six out of 24 REC members heeded the PEC call.
He further said that those who resigned were expected to be rewarded by appointment to the regional task team.
In a statement issued by the Amathile Region on Monday it said: “… the REC called for regional delegates to the 55th National Conference to remain focused and resilient as these developments are aimed at distracting the region towards the December 16 conference.”
The regions will be sending 100 delegates to the conference and many are believed to be supporting the Mkhize and Masualle combination. Another source said that many branches in the province falsely endorsed Ramaphosa because they feared being disqualified.
Matiwane said that although delegates would not be affected since they won’t be changed, the PEC was sending a warning shot to them to toe the line.
He added that they will do all in their power to protect the region and its delegates.
The region incorporates towns such as Idutywa, Butterworth, Willowvale, Komga and Morgans Bay. The local municipalities under the region are Mbashe, Mnquma, Great Kei, Amahlathi and Raymond Mhlaba.
Eastern Cape ANC provincial spokesperson Loyiso Magqashela said the disbandment has nothing to do with the conference but had to be taken because the structure was dysfunctional.
He said the secretariat office was no longer existing since both the secretary and the deputy were suspended.
“People think just because there is a coming conference the organisation must not work and take decisions after the conference, unfortunately, it does not work that way,” said Magqashela.
He added that the REC held a virtual meeting with the provincial secretary where they were informed about the PEC decision and they were written a letter last week to state why they should not be disbanded but their response was not convincing.