Green light for EC branches

ANC sets conditions for attendance at September provincial conference

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has given the go-ahead to more than 630 Eastern Cape branches to take part in the party’s provincial conference in three months time.

That is, if they manage to convene successful branch general meetings (BGMs) between July 6 and the end of August.

This was after the much-anticipated provincial elective conference – initially planned for next month – was moved to September.

Membership audits revealed that O R Tambo remained the biggest ANC region in the province with 33 000 members “in good standing”.

This is followed by Chris Hani region around Komani with more than 26 800 members, while the influential Amathole region has 21 000.

Alfred Nzo and Dr W B Rubusana region in Buffalo City saw 19 600 and 11 000 members respectively qualifying to take part in the conference preparations.

Sarah Baartman will send the lowest number of delegates with only 6 300 verified members.

Joe Gqabi and Nelson Mandela Bay memberships stand at 8 600 and 9 900 respectively.

Provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said following the signoff of the audit report of ANC branches in the province, the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC) met on Monday and agreed to postpone the elective conference to September.

This would help give branches in good standing enough time to convene BGMs by the August deadline.

In an attempt to eliminate delays the PEC has resolved not to leave the issue of dealing with disputes and verification of BGMs until a few weeks before conference.

Mabuyane said: “Disputes will be dealt with on weekly bases as the BGMs continue. The verification process will be done bi-weekly in between BGMs.”

If all goes to plan, 1 500 branch delegates will attend the conference, while branches with more than 500 members will qualify to add more for all branches in good standing, which might increase the number at the September conference to 2 000.

Mabuyane said of the 630 branches that qualified to take part, 220 were still to convene elective branch meetings.

This means they would also be expected to convene branch annual general meetings.

“These branches cut across all regions and most of them are part of the changes effected during the realignment of branches as per changes to demarcation of wards towards last August local elections.”

On Monday, the PEC meeting also revived an earlier ANC resolution not to allow delegates to the conference to wear T-shirts or sing songs which promote a certain faction.

“We have ANC T-shirts which promote the year of O R Tambo.

“We expect members to wear those T-shirts in the spirit of promoting unity in the year of O R Tambo,” said Mabuyane. —