PAC told to get house in order before May election
FRUSTRATED supporters of the PAC will officially know today which members of the party have been elected to form part of the interim leadership.
Fierce factional squabbles have marred the party over the last few months, resulting in the Electoral Commission (IEC) questioning the PAC’s eligibility to contest in this year’s general elections.
And with only two months left before the country heads to the polls, warring party members found themselves hard-pressed yesterday to unite and make a decision. Some members approached the courts asking that it intervened in ruling who the PAC president should be.
Currently, election campaign posters declare Narius Moloto as the party leader, while another faction believes Mzwanele Nyhontso is the legitimate leader, after a conference held in Kimberly in December last year.
But yesterday Pretoria High Court Judge Moses Mavundla left no room for the factions to manoeuvre or postpone the case any further. Earlier in the day, he adjourned the matter, instructing members in dispute to reach an agreement.
“The best thing you can do is to retreat and regroup so that when you move forward, you move forward as a consolidated force. In that way, you stand a better chance to participate in these elections in a rightful way. But in the event that you don’t, be prepared to face the consequences of not participating,” he said.
At the close of business, Moloto, Nyhontso and former PAC president Luthando Mbindi had reached an amicable decision for an interim national executive committee.
It was decided that Moloto will continue as the president, with Nyhontso his deputy.
There were also provisions made for the party’s parliamentary structure.
Meanwhile, former PAC president Alton Mphethi initially put up a fight and rejected the interim agreement. However, he eventually told reporters that the court would decide on what was in the best interest of supporters.
“I am not happy about what happened but at least the PAC will participate in the elections and today we are going to finalise whatever we have discussed ,” he said.
Nyhontso reminded those gathered that the PAC was above individuals, saying they had to consider Solomon Mahlangu’s legacy and the examples he had set out for generations to come in handling contentious discussions.
In the meantime, the IEC has given all political parties until March 13 to submit their nomination lists and to have paid the necessary deposits needed for them to successfully contest the elections. PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa receives a courtesy call from comedian Trevor Noah ahead of his reply to questions in the National Assembly in Cape Town. They discussed a wide range of issues, including the impressive philanthropic work that Noah’s foundation is doing in supporting orphans and young people in education and life skills. The president applauded Noah for flying the South African flag high from abroad, with the notable work he is doing in his career as a comedian and television host. |