Ramaphosa supporters hold a ‘parallel’ event
ORGANISERS of the so-called parallel ANC event that was held at the West End sports grounds and Jim Summers Hall on Saturday, have denied that it was organised to divert attention from the Freedom Charter lecture that was delivered by presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on Saturday.
Those who participated in the OR Tambo games and lecture, which featured local guest speakers, pointed out that if they attended the Freedom Charter lecture it would mean that they endorsed Dlamini Zuma.
“We are supporting Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to be the next president,” they said.
The ANC branch secretary of the John Sejake branch, Nondumiso Buda, stated that the event was not held to purposefully clash with the Dlamini Zuma lecture.
“Ramaphosa has the support of the majority of the branches in the Sol Plaatje district and sub-regions. We did not need to bus anyone in, about 1 500 ANC members attended the event of their own accord. It was a huge success,” said Buda.
“We hosted netball and soccer matches from 10am on Saturday, followed by refreshments. We even had to cancel the last match as it was getting too dark. Our incoming regional secretary, Webster Dichaba, delivered the keynote address, followed by entertainment provided by four local DJs.”
She added that their branches met on a monthly basis.
“The Dlamini Zuma lecture was postponed on two previous occasions and we had planned the OR Tambo lecture last month already. Dlamini Zuma is also our comrade but our branches believe that Ramaphosa will be able to rectify all the wrongs in the party. The country needs to be rescued from state capture and the Guptas.”
The group’s preferred incoming leadership for the ANC Frances Baard region were also introduced at the event, including Sol Plaatje executive mayor Mangaliso Matika as regional chairman, Webster Dichaba as regional secretary and Wendy Marekwa who they wish to be elected as the new regional deputy secretary at the upcoming ANC regional elective conference.
ANC Frances Baard region spokesperson, Ali Diteme, stated that the Regional Executive Committee (REC) strongly condemned the “parallel” programme.
“It is opportunistic and smacks of malice of the highest order. The parallel programme was intended to disrupt the REC programme and we therefore take serious exception of such conduct. We will reflect on the matter and provide clarifications.”
The ANC Youth League in the Frances Baard region also slammed the event.
ANCYL regional task team co-ordinator, Sandiseni Sithole, added that the OR Tambo event was organised “within 48 hours” after the Freedom Charter event was advertised.
“We will instruct our convener to talk to our top structures about these divisive tactics. It was organised along factional lines by members who have aligned themselves to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.”
Sithole questioned why the event was scheduled to take place on the same day as theirs.
“Comrades are allowed to have different views but they must be expressed in a constructive manner.”
ANC provincial secretary, Deshi Ngxanga, stated that the ANC provincial structure “had nothing to do” with the event.
“As a Province we were not involved in any logistical preparations for the event and will be unable to answer the questions on the funding of the events.”
He pointed out that the ANCYL and ANCWL were free to support their preferred candidate.
“The ANC is currently in an open season where comrades are free to lobby within the constitution of the ANC for which candidate they would like to see as president of the ANC during the elections. The leagues are no different.”