Lungisa steps down ‘out of respect for ANC’
ANDILE Lungisa, chairperson of the ANC Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) metro regional executive committee, has decided to step down from the position less than a month after being elected at the party’s regional elective conference (REC).
The REC in Nelson Mandela Bay announced its position at a press conference yesterday, following weeks of pressure from national and provincial bosses who were adamant that Lungisa resign.
Deputy Regional Chairperson Phumzile Tshuni will fill the spot as the REC’s acting regional chairperson.
“After engagement with all structures of the ANC, our democratically elected regional chairperson Andile Lungisa decided to step down,” Tshuni said.
The ANC in the Nelson Mandela Bay region said they would support Lungisa to run for the position of Provincial Secretary at the party’s provincial conference, which will be held in July later this year.
“We will allow the organisational structures to endorse the decision, but we are [not] dictating to them but guiding them,” said Tshuni.
Meanwhile, Lungisa said that his decision to step down was based on “respect” for up- per structures within the ANC.
“We have made it very clear that we are members of the organisation and we respect its structures. As an individual, you must be prepared to die in order for the organisation to become strong; that is our principle,” he said.
In a letter sent to ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe last week, it emerged that Lungisa was only prepared to resign if that order came from the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Yesterday he said ANC members had a responsibility to discuss all political issues, including the constitution of the organisation, “without fear and favour”. “That’s why we discussed openly at the con- ference and defended the outcomes. When the NEC has met and expressed a view on this matter, we must be able to support the outcome and respect that decision,” Lungisa said.
Mantashe had earlier sent a letter to provincial structures countrywide and reminded them about the party’s constitution, which barred members of the provincial executive committee (PEC) from serving on lower structures.
Lungisa is a member of the party’s PEC in the Eastern Cape and was not allowed to contest for the position of regional chairman, a lower structure, according to Mantashe.
However, Lungisa and his supporters maintain their stance and the interpretation of that particular rule.
Lungisa said the way he had interpreted the ANC’s constitution on the rule around him contesting an upper structure position was still the “correct interpretation”.
“We cannot isolate interpretations from political decisions…there was a decision taken by an upper structure and we must respect that decision. As we go to the provincial conference in July and the policy conference in June, as we go to the national conference in December, this region will come with a clear constitutional amendment,” he said. – ANA