‘We back Mabuyane’

ANC deputy president David Mabuza says the current Eastern Cape ANC provincial executive committee led by Oscar Mabuyane is the only legitimate leadership recognised by the National Executive Committee.

Speaking during the launch of the Chris Hani volunteers programme yesterday, Mabuza said the province had experienced many problems but the PEC, elected in October last year, was the only one recognised by Luthuli House.

His statement came as some disgruntled members were reportedly planning to challenge the election of the current PEC. They planned to approach the Johannesburg High Court to nullify the result of the October provincial conference despite the fact the group lost in the Grahamstown High Court last December.

But a report said that should the dissatisfied members win the case, it would effectively further nullify the Nasrec ANC national conference. This meant that President Cyril Ramaphosa and his NEC, who were elected at Nasrec would have to step down and that former president Jacob Zuma would return to lead the party.

This view was dismissed by political analyst Zamikhaya Maseti, who said it made no sense.

The NEC recognised the Mabuyane PEC and allowed them to participate in the Nasrec national conference. As part of its intervention to bring political stability in the province, the NEC opted for reconciliation between the two Eastern Cape factions including ordering a provincial cabinet reshuffle that would accommodate some new PEC members.

Mabuza further said the ANC had apologised for the public images showing members that were divided. He said the party was committed to unity. At Nasrec Mabuza was nicknamed “Mr Unity” after he influenced Mpumalanga delegates to vote for unity, instead of the then factions led by Ramaphosa and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

The ANC deputy president said ANC members must be united and work for unity all the time.

“You must know that the ANC is the weapon in our hands where we can change the lives of our people for the better. The strength of this weapon is the unity of the ANC,” Mabuza said.