EC crown at stake

Party to decide if Mabuyane could be next premier

Oscar Mabuyane will know this weekend if ANC members want him to be the next premier of the Eastern Cape if the ruling party retains its majority at the polls next year.

This will be determined when the party convenes its provincial list conference at the East London City Hall on Sunday and Monday.

Thousands of ANC branch delegates will have discussions as names of those nominated by branches will be reconciled to compile the party’s nomination lists.

The party has a conference resolution that there would not be two centres of power, meaning whoever leads the party at Calata House will also be the number one candidate for premier.

Three lists will be compiled, namely:

● National to national – candidates for the National Assembly;

● Province to national – candidates for the National Council of Provinces; and

● Province to province – candidates for the legislature in Bhisho.

A third list is under the radar as it will determine which of the current executive committee members (MECs) are likely to remain in office.

In preparing for the upcoming provincial list conference, seven ANC regions have facilitated branch general meetings (BGMs).

One of the ANC’s biggest regions in the province, Chris Hani in Komani, saw at least 90% of its 94 branches passing audits and convening successful BGMs.

In Sarah Baartman in Port Alfred, regional chairman Scara Njadayi said 40 branches qualified to take part in the list process. Of those, 35 have successfully held BGMs and are ready for the provincial list conference.

ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said the branch nominations would be reconciled at the conference, and the list will be finalised according to the number of nominations candidates secure from each branch.

“Candidates who secure the most nominations will top the list, and those with fewer nominations will miss out,” said Ngcukayitobi.

“If there is any delegate who is contesting the elimination of one candidate against the other, the matter will be put to vote,” he added.

The party [ANC] has a conference resolution that there would not be two centres of power