Faction protests against interim KZN team

ANC protesters who were picketing outside the party’s provincial headquarters in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, yesterday were told the interim leadership team would meet them next week.

A group of about 60 protesters started picketing and singing in Stalwart Simelane Street from noon onwards, as convener of the interim leadership team, Mike Mabuyakhulu, and co-ordinator Sihle Zikalala met inside.

According to the protesters, who are aligned to former ANC chairperson and axed premier Senzo Mchunu, the interim committee chosen to lead the party to a new provincial election was biased and weighted in favour of Zikalala, a known supporter of President Jacob Zuma.

Zikalala was the provincial chairperson before being suspended along with others on the leadership committee by the ANC’s national body.

Despite the suspension, Zikalala was chosen to sit on the interim structure.

Speaking to the media after meeting with three of the protesters yesterday, Zikalala said: “The concern raised by the picketers was that it has taken time for KwaZulu-Natal going through difficulties, divisions and in that period the comrades are saying there are a number of things that have happened, and therefore they don’t believe that the ANC will be able to go to a conference within the set time frame in a manner that will help unite (us).”

Mabuyakhulu said the discussions with three of the picketers went “very well”.

“Our own position is that now that we are ready to discuss the process.

“It is a matter of us therefore meeting with them next week, taking them through that process.

“But we want to say to our members in general, our structures, we think that we want to approach this process with the greatest inclusiveness,” he said.

Mabuyakhulu was the MEC for economic development in Mchunu’s administration, a position that is now held by Zikalala.

The ANC’s national executive committee formed the interim leadership team after a 2017 KwaZulu-Natal High Court judgment found that the 2015 provincial elective conference was illegal and thus the results null and void.

A new conference has to take place within three months.

Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng/African News Agency (ANA) FAIR REPRESENTATION: A group of ANC supporters protested outside the ANC provincial offices in Durban yesterday, demanding equal representation in the recently elected provincial task team.