Thumbs up from ANC’s top six
John Taolo Gaetsewe and ZF Mgcawu hoping to get the attention of President Jacob Zuma and Mantashe.
When the supporters arrived neither Zuma or Mantashe were in the building and, instead, they were forced to have meetings with the ANC administrators. Now these members have threatened to occupy the ANC headquarters until the ANC top brass talk to them.
Earlier these disgruntled members – who are vying for Lucas to take over the ANC leadership – have contradicted Mantashe’s view that everything was done according to ANC guidelines.
They are firm on their claims that the conference delegates from the branches have been cloned and that important branch general meetings did not take place ahead of conference.
Reginald Alexander, from the ZF Mgcawu region, was adamant that the conference should not go ahead without the proper process being followed.
He said the Northern Cape had numerous disputes and complaints that were not addressed by the ANC national structure.
“We are disputing the fact that the conference must continue because there are a lot of disputes that have not been attended to. These disputes are lying on the secretarygeneral’s table. We are coming here to tell the top six to attend to our disputes,” Alexander said.
Justine Moncho, of the Frances Baard region, said that in her region the number of delegates were largely reduced to 109 members, despite being the biggest region in the Province. Moncho said the Pixley Ka Seme region – which is a smaller region and the birthplace of Saul – had its numbers increased to 94 delegates.
While these members are challenging Mantashe’s decision, those close to Saul are looking forward to their conference. Last week, Saul exerted his powers in the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) when he and his supporters in the PEC stopped Lucas from reshuffling.
This was after Lucas summoned all her MECs to her office last Tuesday and told them of her intentions to to reshuffle her cabinet the next day.
But, when she raised the matter with the PEC, she was opposed and all her plans went into disarray. According to ANC insiders, Lucas wanted to deal with all those supporting Saul.
Confirming that the PEC rejected Lucas’ plan, Saul said: “Any changes should first have been communicated with the top five and then the provincial executive council. After discussing the matter, we would then engage the individual alliance partners before any decision to reshuffle can be made.
“This has been the practise in the ANC for over 15 years,” Saul said.