Last-ditch bid to stop conference

IN A FINAL bid to postpone the ANC provincial elective conference, a group of ANC members approached the powers that be at Luthuli House in Johannesburg yesterday to pull the plug on the conference until their disputes are resolved.

A members march was held outside the ANC offices in Du Toitspan Road last week, where up to 6 000 members claimed that they had been excluded from the database even though they were members in good standing.

Members also warned that there could be bloodshed if the conference went ahead as planned, from Thursday until Sunday in Colesberg.

“Things can take a nasty turn because the conference has been predetermined and delegates were hand-picked. Anything can happen because people are desperate to be elected into positions of power and gain access to state resources.” They said they would disrupt the conference. “All the internal processes were followed and yet we have been ignored.

“Processes were bypassed because the delegates are not the members who were elected by the branches. It is no longer about serving the people but rather about individuals who are intent on serving their own selfish gains.”

Members stated that security would be beefed up in Colesberg. “Extra security as well as the police have been called in to protect politicians at the state’s expense. Expanded Public Works Projects workers were used to campaign for the factions at Frances Baard District Municipality offices today (yesterday), while a Provincial Executive Committee meeting was taking place.”

They indicated that given the divisions in the Province, the 2019 national general elections would be a tough battle for the ANC.

“The ANC can kiss the Northern Cape goodbye if the outcome of the provincial elective conference is not favoured by the majority of its members. The leadership are not concerned about us. Even the leaders who we are supporting are wheeling and dealing behind our backs, without consulting us.”

Support is currently split between Premier Sylvia Lucas and ANC provincial secretary Zamani Saul, who are both vying for the position of ANC provincial chairperson.

Saul has aligned his support with Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa while Lucas has endorsed President Jacob Zuma in the race for the national leadership of the party.

ANC members said that a unity meeting was held over the weekend, where members were discouraged from going ahead with the interdict to prevent the conference from taking place this week.

Other ANC members believed that the protesting members were fighting a losing battle as the National Executive Committee (NEC) had already given the go-ahead for the conference.

“This is just a delaying tactic. At this late stage it will be difficult for the applicants to prove urgency to the court in the application for an urgent interdict to halt the conference.”

Meanwhile, Cope councillor Rosie Ludick has objected to the use of state resources for the conference. “The SAPS members from Kimberley and ANC members who are state officials have already arrived in Colesberg. Who is paying for their accommodation and daily allowances? At what cost does it come to taxpayers?”

The ANC in the Province said that it would hold a press conference today to indicate its readiness for the event and did not wish to provide further comment yesterday.

Saul has previously indicated that all disputes had been dealt with by the NEC, which had visited the Province on two occasions.

He said a task team had verified all the branch general meetings and had attended to all disputes, including allegations of vote rigging, duplication of membership and the manipulation of processes.

A total of 31 branches were instructed to reconvene their branch nomination meetings as they did not comply.

Saul had also stated that the ANC was funding its own expenses for the conference.

The police indicated that they would respond to media enquiries today.