Easing of lockdown paves way for ANC conferences

With SA now on alert level 1, the ANC has given its branches the thumbs-up to forge ahead with branch general meetings, with new regional leaders expected to be elected by the end of June.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday night that the Covid-19 regulations had been eased.

Part of the changes announced was that indoor gatherings were now allowed with up to 100 people while up to 250 people could gather outdoors.

The move has paved the way for the ANC in the Eastern Cape to give the five regions the green light to go to elective conferences by the end of June.

The ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay, Amathole, Joe Gqabi and OR Tambo were supposed to have had elective conferences last year, but the plans were shelved because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ANC had to disband its structures in regions as terms in office had lapse or because regional executive committees were dysfunctional.

But with coronavirus numbers having gone down drastically, political gatherings are now permitted under level 1.

This means should ANC regions meet the 70% party constitutional threshold to go to conferences, the party will go to the 2021 municipal polls, expected to be in September, with new leaders.

The green light for conferences also means there will be intense behind-the-scenes lobbying and campaigning from ANC factions leading up to the conferences.

ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said yesterday that branches would prepare for conferences from Friday.

“They can now have their branch and pre-branch general meetings.

“The regulations are still constraining because only 100 inside the hall and 250 outside are allowed, and conferences need more than that.

“That is why we have to have a discussion on how best we deal with that.

“Our intention was to do a hybrid model with some inside the hall while others do it via virtual means as long as it doesn’t discriminate against anyone from participating,” he said.

Ngcukayitobi said once agreed that the hybrid model was the best option, the ANC would have to ensure all safety boxes were ticked, with no possibility of fraudulent activity.

“We’ll have to work out modalities so that our conferences work out in a manner that befits the organisation.

“Our intention is that all branches must have gone to conferences by the end of June.”

Bay ANC regional co-ordinator Luyolo Nqakula said: “Yes, as a region as per the last signed-off audit report, we are ready for the regional conference.

“It is what our structures have been calling for and want.

“It is part of the primary activities which must occur with which we were established.

“As the RTT we welcome this as it can contribute towards the strengthening of the organisation.”

Amathole regional task team co-ordinator Teris Ntutu also welcomed the easing of restrictions.

“There have not been any instances where restrictions were eased then Covid-19 numbers increased because of political gatherings.

“Instead, when the country was opened up, with alcohol establishments allowed to operate, people went out to jive, then numbers went up.

“We’re happy and ready to go to conference. It’s what branches want,” he said.