KZN ANC hopeful of unity, peace after conference

ANC leaders in warring factions in KwaZulu-Natal have expressed hope that the outcome of the weekend’s elective conference was a step towards peace in the province plagued by deep divisions and political killings.

Party leaders have also warned that the peace deal which was reflected in the election of the new leadership of the province would not be implemented overnight at regional and branch level.

Mtuza Mkhize, leader of the disgruntled group in the Moses Mabhida Region, said he was happy with the balance in the top five leadership and the provincial executive committee.

The re-election of Sihle Zikalala as provincial chairperson and former economic development MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu as his deputy brought hope that the province would unite in time for the general elections next year. Mkhize said the weekend conference was similar to party’s national conference held in Nasrec late last year.

“The national conference had been able to provide leadership in how we should go about building unity. It did this in the formation of the of national executive committee and also did the same thing in the government deployment,” he said. “I can see this unity in the province cascading down to the grassroots,” he added.

Mkhize’s camp had previously complained that while Zikalala and Mabuyakhulu were working together in the provincial task team to build unity at regional and branch levels, aggrieved members continued to the sidelined by Zikalala’s camp.

“The conference is a good start as we can see signs that this unity would cascade down to the branches,” said Mkhize.

Zikalala said unity would help the party “swiftly move to concentrate” on the campaign for next year’s elections.

“My plans are for the ANC to maximise unity to ensure it becomes more effective in the issues of the community,” he said.

“No member would be removed from a position of deployment just because he held a different leadership preference elective process.”