Court decisions, Mbete pulls out – and more
Failing verification process reduces number of voting delegates
AHAT-TRICK of court decisions on Friday resulted in entire provincial executive committees, a range of branches and scores of delegates being barred from voting at the ANC’s 54th elective conference; Speaker Baleka Mbete pulling out of the presidential race and the number of conference voting delegates being reduced from 5 186 to 4 776, as branches failed the ANC’s three-step verification process.
The presidential race was the main drawcard for more than 1 000 journalists at the weekend, but the sideshows added to unpredictability of the crucial conference.
The party’s leaders decided to put to effect three court judgments that disqualified a number of delegates from voting, and after scrutinising delegates’ credentials, the number of voters was reduced.
The North West High Court on Friday declared the ANC Bojanala regional conference null and void. The KwaZulu-Natal ANC’s provincial executive committee (PEC) was effectively dissolved by an order of the Pietermaritzburg High Court and the High Court in Bloemfontein ruled that the ANC Free State’s provincial conference was held unlawfully.
Both the KZN and Free State are strong supporters of Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
In the North West, the party wanted the High Court in Mahikeng to rescind an August judgment that interdicted an elective conference by the Bojanala region, after disgruntled members argued that at least 40 branches were not constitutionally launched.
They also alleged that over 70 signatures at the branch meetings were forged. The ANC North West filed an appeal against the court ruling.
In the Free State the court found that 14 branch general meetings that were supposed to take place were not held.