EC Sanco saga heads to national body
THE two warring factions of the South African National Civic Organisation that claim to be the legitimate structures of the ANC-alliance partner are expected to state their cases to national bosses today.
The parallel structures, led by Zola Mlenza and Zukile Luyenge, have been summoned to the Sanco national executive committee in Johannesburg, which starts today, to explain how two provincial executive committees were elected in East London and Port Elizabeth weeks apart.
Both structures have claimed since 2014 to be legitimately elected.
The divisions came after there were allegations of flawed processes leading to the 2014 elective conference. Allegations of financial irregularities also arose.
In the latest episode of the Sanco soap opera, Sanco secretary-general Skhumbuzo Mpanza slapped Luyenge with a letter of intent to expel him, and told him to explain why he should not be booted out of the organisation by Thursday.
Contacted for comment, Mpanza did not deny writing the letter.
“These really are internal matters and cannot be discussed outside the organisation,” he said.
Mpanza was one of the officials present in the conference that elected Mlenzana, while his deputy Robbie Tsikwe attended the one that gave Luyenge the nod to lead the EC party. Luyenge said he and Mpanza had come to some agreement but did not say what that agreement was.
He confirmed receiving the letter of intent to expel him, but said he had responded with questions of his own.
“I have asked him for the grounds [on which they want to expel me], the authority and specific reasons. I have also asked him for specific reasons or constitutional clauses empowering him or a structure to even daydream of that,” said Luyenge.
Tony Duba, who was reelected as the provincial secretary in the conference that elected Luyenge, confirmed that the two structures would attend the NEC meeting from today.