ANC Western Cape tasked with party unity

THE ANC in the Western Cape has said the leadership elected at its conference this weekend will be tasked with keeping the party united and stable to ensure it would be a stronger opposition in next year’s local elections.

The nominees from various regions will be announced tomorrow morning at an elective conference in the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

The Dullah Omar region has come out in support of current provincial chairperson Marius Fransman.

The Central Karoo, Dullah Omar, Southern Cape and the Military Veterans have nominated Fransman and secretary Songezo Mjongile to lead the party for another term.

The Dullah Omar region (the metro) and the Boland region held their election conferences lastweekend. About 700 ANC delegates from various regions are expected.

Fransman said the leadership that will be elected will have to ensure it puts out a party that will take the opposition “head-on”.

He said the current ANC leadership had managed to increase the party’s regions and gained supporters since 2011 when it last held its conference.

The Western Cape is the only province that is not governed by the ANC and the party wants to strengthen its support in preparation for the 2016 local elections .

“The conference needs to put out an ANC that will gain more support and everything is in place for the conference,” he said.

ANC provincial spokesperson Yonela Diko said tight security would be deployed at the CTICC at the weekend.

He said transport and accommodation for delegates would also be provided. “We might have President Zuma or Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as a keynote speaker, but that is not yet confirmed.