Battle lines drawn in Amathole ANC leadership fight

The gloves are off between the ANC’S Amathole regional executive committee and the party’s provincial leadership.

This follows Monday’s decision by the PEC to disband the REC, saying it was unable to implement party programmes.

The REC is also accused of defying provincial leadership.

But Amathole has hit back, saying it is being punished for supporting the wrong side in the May conference in East London, when it backed loser Babalo Madikizela over Oscar Mabuyane for the chair.

On Tuesday, the province announced a task team of 28 to take over the region.

It is convened by Sheila Xhego and co-ordinated by Nombuyekezo Ncethezo. Xhego was deputy chair in the disbanded structure. Amathole district municipality mayor Anele Ntsangani is deputy convener, Ngqushwa mayor Sanga Maneli deputy co-ordinator and council speaker Onke Mgunculu treasurer.

Provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said structures in the region had collapsed.

“The REC [was] not prepared to work according to organisational discipline.

“[They have been] defying the instructions of the upper structures of the party.”

Ngcukayitobi said 70% of the branches consulted in Amathole wanted the REC disbanded “because it has failed to undertake its responsibilities”.

He added: “The PEC felt nothing can be done about the Amathole REC — it cannot save itself from itself.”

The disbanded REC’S head of communication, Thabo Matiwane, said: “The region has appealed to the NEC against the PEC decision to disband a structure elected by more than 90% of delegates in December 2021.

“While the decision is being appealed we expect the provincial leadership to respect that process and avoid parallelism by imposing a task team.”

But ANC provincial spokesperson Loyiso Magqashela said: “The PEC decision stands until an upper structure pronounces otherwise.”

Matiwane called on Amathole delegates to the ANC’S upcoming 55th national conference in Nasrec to “remain focused and resilient” ahead of the December 16 conference.

Ngcukayitobi said the delegates had not been expelled, so their rights to be lobbied and to lobby were intact.