ANC rivals see progress in KZN talks
● The ANC rebels who won an interdict halting the KwaZulu-Natal provincial conference have been given until tomorrow to withdraw their court case to avoid a bruising legal battle.
This follows talks between the rebels and ANC provincial task team co-ordinator Sihle Zikalala and convener Mike Mabuyakhulu.
Zikalala told the Sunday Times he and Mabuyakhulu had met the aggrieved members three times since they obtained their interdict last month and that they were close to finding a solution that would allow the ANC in the province to elect new leaders.
Zikalala refused to discuss details of the demands from the group, but described the discussions as productive.
The interdict was granted on the first day of the conference, held in Empangeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
At the time, insiders said the rebels had gone to court because Zikalala and his group reneged on an agreement to accommodate them in the top leadership.
Zikalala said should the aggrieved members not withdraw the case by tomorrow, the ANC would be ready for a court battle.
“These are comrades we have been working with for years. They tried their best to be honest with us and we have been honest with them.
“I believe that they will withdraw, otherwise we will be forced to proceed with the court process, which we don’t want because issues of the ANC are properly handled through ANC structures,” he said.
“As of Monday [tomorrow] we will know what their decision is and we will take it from there and if there is certainty by early next week, the ANC will be able to reconvene the halted conference before the end of July deadline,” Zikalala added.
The interdict was obtained by party members from three regions who alleged there had been gatekeeping and that branch general meetings had not been conducted correctly. Zikalala said the grievances have been dealt with.
Two of the rebels among the six who obtained the interdict confirmed that the meetings had taken place.
“The negotiations are at a sensitive stage. They were tense but we are looking at a solution,” one said. “I cannot divulge further information because that may compromise the progress we have made.”
Zikalala was the sole candidate for provincial chair, but the influential position of provincial secretary is fiercely contested by former incumbent Super Zuma and former provincial spokesman Mdumiseni Ntuli.
Party members who are divided between supporting Ntuli or Zuma are, however, united in backing Zikalala.
Ntuli has also received backing from those who were previously aligned to President Cyril Ramaphosa and to the ANC Youth League.