Now to mend fences

NOW that all votes have been cast for the 86 members of the ANC’s national executive committee and we await only the announcement of results, including my lost goats, the elective component of the conference is over.

I have used my platforms to lobby and influence popular sentiment towards my preferred leadership collective as every member of the movement has a constitutional right to do.

In exercising this right and playing whatever little role I have played as part of the CR17 campaign, I may have said things that were hurtful to fellow comrades. Ndicela uxolo (I ask for your forgiveness). As I always do in between conferences, I am now officially out of any lobby group. Voting is over. Nothing more to lobby for.

I am combat-ready to convince voters the ANC is still the only vehicle for socioeconomic transformation and will henceforth use my platforms to work towards regaining a two-thirds majority in 2019.

Thanks to all my comrades who were formerly (hopefully disbanded too) in the NDZ campaign who remain my friends and comrades despite what has been a bruising and sometimes divisive campaign. Thanks for remaining my friends. As we shut down the Mbombozi, Bhokhwe and House of Truth, let us all join hands to work together for a stronger, unified ANC. — Ace Ncobo, via e-mail