Lungisa defies Mantashe, fights on
DEFIANT ANC Nelson Mandela Bay chairperson Andile Lungisa is not going anywhere – at least for now.
And in a dramatic turn of events, he launched a brutal attack on ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, accusing him of undermining democratic processes and the party’s highest decision-making body, the national executive committee (NEC).
He berated Mantashe for misinterpreting the ANC rule purportedly calling on leaders serving in higher structures not to contest seats in lower structures.
Lungisa, who missed yesterday’s deadline to stand down, accused Mantashe of stifling the basic rights of ANC members to contest any position within the party.
He also warned him of the “dreadful net effect of removing a popularly elected regional leadership, in a region where the ANC is mired by political malaise”.
The decision would demoralise members and send a message of an organisation in disarray, “thus worsening our already beleaguered public image” in a metro that the party lost to the DA during last year’s municipal elections.
In another letter to Mantashe, which The Star has seen, Lungisa wrote that he would step down only if ordered to do so by the NEC.
He argued that his recent election was presided over by provincial executive committee (PEC) and NEC members.
Lungisa claimed his victory after repeatedly defying Mantashe’s calls for him to pull out of the race.
“After discussions, it was decided that the will of the branches who had nominated me should be respected.
“This was not my sole decision. The decision was taken by branch delegates, together with the members of the PEC and NEC at the regional conference. It therefore cannot be my decision whether or not I step down.
“Nor can it be the decision of the REC (regional executive committee). If the PEC or the NEC instructs the dissolution of the REC, we shall comply. At present, it is not within our powers to dissolve ourselves,” the letter read.
But Lungisa’s latest letter to Mantashe said: “It is presumed that the purpose of referring the matter to the NEC is for its deliberation and decision. It would be out of step with the status and responsibility of the NEC if such a matter was referred to the NEC as a fait accompli…
“It is our understanding that the reason why the matter has been referred to the NEC is for a binding and final decision to be taken. It stands to reason that prior to the final decision of the NEC on the matter, the secretary-general lacks authority to instruct the elected chairperson of the region to stand down. Should that be the understanding in the matter, it would be in conflict with the provisions of the constitution and undermine the role of the NEC as the highest decision-making body in the organisation between conferences.”
Lungisa indicated that in order to ensure there was no misunderstanding, “I will step down from the position of chairperson, should I be advised to do so pursuant to the decision of the NEC.
“At this point in time, it is our understanding that the matter is still pending before the NEC, and as such, the elected leadership shall be remaining in its position.”
On Monday, ANC Eastern Cape secretary Oscar Mabuyane wrote to Lungisa, telling him to step down by yesterday, in line with last week’s decision by the ANC top six officials, including Mantashe and President Jacob Zuma.
But The Star understands that one of the reasons why Lungisa was digging in his heels was because he didn’t recognise the top six officials as a “formal structure of the ANC”.
Yesterday, Mabuyane told The Star: “Lungisa has written to us to appeal that we give the NEC space to deal with the matter. We don’t have a problem with that because the ANC is a unitary organisation.
“By next week, the NEC would have expressed its views on the matter, definitely.”
Lungisa refused to comment, saying the matter was internal.
Mantashe couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said: “There is a standing decision of the NEC on that issue which the secretary-general communicated to all structures before the REC. He (Lungisa) defied that decision.”
Kodwa said ANC structures, but not the NEC, should discuss the way forward.