‘Only 16 ANC branches functional’

Faku opponents say audit report proof conference that elected him not legitimate

ADAMNING audit report of the ANC doing the rounds in Nelson Mandela Bay shows that only 16 of the party’s 59 branches in the region are functional. For those who support mayor Zanoxolo Wayile, the report is “proof” that the regional conference which elected Nceba Faku as chairman in April was not legitimate as several branches were not in good standing.

However, the regional leadership has downplayed the report, saying it is only a preliminary document which is not a true reflection of the state of the party in the metro.

After an appeal by members who support Wayile questioning the legitimacy of the conference, the regional executive committee was vindicated when a team of national and provincial ANC leaders found in July there were insufficient reasons to nullify it.

The audit report, from the office of ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and dated August 19, shows that 43 branches in the metro were not in good standing.

The probe found that the 43 branches did not submit reports verifying membership figures and finances. They also apparently failed to report if branch annual meetings were held.

ANC regional secretary Zandisile Qupe has rubbished the findings.

“I’ve heard these stories on Facebook about 16 branches only in good standing, but that is not the case.

“The report you have is a preliminary report which was done in the first round of the audit. It is a stolen document that was taken maliciously by people who have their own agendas,” Qupe said. “That report is not a true reflection, it’s just a story that some people like to make up. That is why we did not even present it to the branches.

“You will see that the actual report will be a surprise because the numbers are far beyond what you have in that report.

“The final report is still being compiled, so it cannot be presented to you until it is presented to all the structures,” he said.

When asked about it, ANC provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane asked: “Where did you get that report?”

He said he could not comment on the document as it had not yet been discussed by the ANC provincial working committee.

The findings of the probe have sparked outrage among ANC members aligned to Wayile, who are adamant it was not possible to have a legitimate conference with only 16 branches in good standing.

At the time of the conference, a number of branch delegates who supported Wayile for the chairman post opted to stay away from the conference in protest at what they claimed was an unfair process designed to ensure Faku’s victory.

They also hoped the conference would not reach the 90% required for it to proceed.

At a press conference on the weekend of the elective conference, Faku said delegates had surpassed the requirements of 42 branches to hold the conference as 43 of the 59 ANC branches in the metro had held their branch meetings.