Clock ticking for E Cape ANC regional elections

ANC members from seven of the eight Eastern Cape regions will know this weekend if they are “members in good standing”.

Those found to have paid up membership will take part in branch general meetings leading up to elective conferences in Dr W B Rubusana, Joe Gqabi, Chris Hani, O R Tambo and Sarah Baartman regions.

Alfred Nzo and Nelson Mandela will convene regional general councils (RGCs) to fill vacant chairman, deputy chairman and treasurer positions.

The seven regions will have to elect leaders between July 15 and 30, failing which the conferences or RGCs would be shelved until after the 2019 general elections, according to guidelines the national executive committee adopted earlier this year.

National auditors arrived last Saturday, and ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said “they should be done by Friday so that all members can view the audit report and know whether they are in good standing or not”.

“We will then allow for disputes and once disputes are resolved, branches would be free to hold branch general meetings to prepare for the elective meetings,” said Ngcukayitobi.

The auditors started their work in Dr W B Rubusana on Saturday, said Ngcukayitobi.

“Over the weekend all ANC members in the affected regions will be able to inspect the register so that on Monday next week we can deal with any errors. Once done, the report will be sent to the secretary-general [Ace Magashule] for signing off.”

After the report is signed off, the party has set aside 30 days for branches to convene branch general meetings, where nominations for the elective regional meetings will be discussed and delegates to the conferences elected.

The Dispatch reported last week that should any fail to convene by the end of July, the ANC provincial executive committee will appoint task teams to take over their powers.

This was to uphold legitimacy and to avoid disputes that may end up in court ahead of next year’s general elections, said Ngcukayitobi at the time.