E Cape ANC members lose case against NEC

Charles Cilliers

The disgruntled group of Eastern Cape ANC members who headed to court last Monday to attempt to force the party’s national executive committee (NEC) to implement a recommendation from the Ndebele appeals panel have lost their case.

The four ANC members are understood to be supporters of former chairperson Phumulo Masu- alle.

The High Court in Johannesburg today dismissed their application, with costs. Judge Zeenat Carelse said there was nothing urgent about the matter.

Sbu Ndebele’s report on the disputed Eastern Cape provincial elective conference recommended that the Oscar Mabuyane-led provincial executive be disbanded, and that an interim structure be appointed until a rerun of the elective conference could be held, within three months.

However, ANC deputy president David Mabuza had already said the current Eastern Cape ANC provincial executive committee, led by Mabuyane, was the only legitimate leadership recognised by the NEC and the party had opted for a solution that would promote unity in the ANC.

The party argued that they could not be forced to implement their own internal recommendations.

The NEC had rejected Ndebele’s recommendation, with some in the NEC feeling his report was biased.

Had the dissatisfied members won the case, it would effectively have nullified the Nasrec ANC national conference as part of a ripple effect.

The NEC appointed Ndebele to head a task team to investigate the complaints by members opposed to the outcome of the October 2017 provincial elective conference.