NEC to name KZN team

WITH the KwaZulu-Natal ANC provincial task team expected to be announced today, those from either side of the factional divide are waiting to hear when the provincial conference will be rerun.

The national executive committee (NEC) is today expected to announce the 20-member provincial task team made up of supporters of former provincial chairperson Senzo Mchunu and those of his successor, Sihle Zikalala. The task team will facilitate the provincial conference.

Spokesperson for the provincial leadership Mdumiseni Ntuli said although the province is yet to be told about the composition of the team, he was aware that former economic development MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu is expected to be the co-ordinator while Zikalala will be the convener.

The PEC is appealing against two Pietermaritzburg High Court judgments, one rendering it null and void because the conference was held before Mchunu’s term of office ended, and the other judgment over whether the PEC should vacate the office because of the earlier court ruling.

Since ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa took office there had been mounting pressure for the PEC to be disbanded, but the NEC had, because of the pending appeals, instead suspended it and handed its operations to the task team.

Ntuli told Independent Media yesterday that the suspended leadership was only interested in the conference, which, according to the NEC, should be held within three months.

“The provincial conference should be held either in March or April. Branch general meetings can sit within the space of a month. Therefore, the projection of March or April is realistic.”

There are concerns among Zikalala’s supporters that he might not retain his position as his backer, President Jacob Zuma, is no longer influential in the ANC. “Who the president of the ANC prefers may be one of the contributing factors, but it is not the main factor. We were elected to lead and we have been removed before the term of office ends.”

The spokesperson for Mchunu’s faction, Sthembiso Mshengu, said branch general meetings would determine the names of those contesting.