‘We want our own regional conference’

UNSEATED ANC Frances Baard Regional Executive Committee (REC) members, who did not participate in the regional conference that took place over the weekend, have requested the powers that be to allow them to hold their own conference.

These former REC members have refused to recognise the newlyelected leadership, consisting of Sol Plaatje executive mayor Mangaliso Matika, who was elected as the new regional chairperson, along with deputy chairperson Vuyani Mpitso, treasurer Umonmdumiso Buda, secretary Webster Dichaba and deputy secretary Wende Marekwa.

The members have also requested the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) to permit them to hold a separate conference that will be “free of manipulation and abuse of power by upper structures”.

A delegation of former REC members and an ANC Youth League member, led by suspended ANC Frances Baard regional chairperson, Thapelo Dithebe, and former deputy regional chairperson, Zwelindyebo Mpampi, met with NEC members in Johannesburg on Sunday.

The meeting was attended by ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize, Thoko Didiza and Ayanda Dlodlo.

In correspondence, the former REC members requested the NEC to endorse a new date and venue for a regional conference.

“We are deliberately going to great lengths to prove to the national leadership that there were grave breaches of the constitutional provisions and rules. These processes were not followed. The REC distances itself from such an unconstitutional regional conference . . . we therefore dispute all processes leading to the regional conference itself and the outcomes thereof.”

They also highlighted how processes were apparently abused in order to charge and suspend Dithebe.

Concern was also raised over the “purging” of former ANC provincial secretary Alvin Botes by deploying him to Parliament.

While they had requested a speedy response from the NEC, no feedback had been provided yesterday.