Big boost for Pakati re-election bid
Buffalo City mayor Xola Pakati’s campaign to retain his position as ANC regional chair received a shot in the arm on Tuesday night, as his Ward 23 branch nominated him to serve a second term.
Pakati is likely to contest his former ally Pumlani Mkolo as regional chair. The numbers so far give Mkolo the edge as about 23 branches so far want him to succeed Pakati while the former member of provincial legislature has secured support in seven branches.
Mtyanti Msauli branch secretary Simbongile “Pitlo” Gulwa confirmed to the Daily Dispatch on Wednesday that the mayor got a comfortable 157 votes against Mkolo’s 19 in the branch.
“ANC members in Mtyanti are saying there is stability in this region under comrade Pakati’s leadership. We want him to continue serving as Dr WB Rubusana regional chairman,” said Gulwa.
He said to ensure that Pakati retains his position as ANC chair, they have also assigned the branch executive committee to lobby support from other branches, as well as support the nomination of Mthetheli Sam, the acting regional secretary, to take over from Mkolo as regional secretary.
Sam was roped in as part of the region’s secretariat after the ANC suspended Mkolo from all its party activities following his arrest and charges related to the R5.9-million Mandela funeral scandal, the trial of which is still ongoing.
It remains unclear whether the party will allow Mkolo to take part in the conference and contest. But it is not the first time that his name has made it onto the ANC ballot paper.
At the 54th conference at the end of last year, Mkolo was nominated as an additional member of the national executive committee, without any contestation from the floor. However, he did not make the cut.
The ANC Ward 23 branch, which covers NU14, 16 and 18 in Mdantsane, also wants Ncedo Kumbaca to serve a second term as the party’s regional treasurer.
The region will know next Monday when they will elect their leaders.
Delegates who will represent the branch at the conference are Gulwa, branch chair Thembile Charlie, deputy chairwoman Ntomboxolo Siwisa, deputy secretary Thembela Cweba, as well as BEC members Ana Yekwa and Noluthando Sinobolo.
Sam will likely contest Mkolo’s ally Antonio Carels, and Sindile Toni for the secretary position.
Pakati, Kumbaca and Sinethemba Mashalaba from the same branch will also be voting delegates at the conference, by virtue of being outgoing regional executive committee members.