Provincial probe requires urgency

THE ANC in the Eastern Cape has formed a task team to look into what it calls political hotspots across its municipalities in the province.

The decision is, on the one hand, a welcome admission by the ruling party that political infighting has severely hamstrung local government in the province.

On the other, hand it is indicative of a failure by its leaders to take hard decisions.

It is undisputed that the challenges the party has to deal with are complex and need careful consideration by its leaders and alliance partners before remedial steps are taken.

However, in the case of Nelson Mandela Bay for example, several interventions have already been made by provincial and national leaders including national disciplinary committee head Derek Hanekom, all to no avail.

The latest talks by the regional and provincial bosses with President Jacob Zuma ignited hope that finally the infighting would be resolved and the stalemate would give way to efficient governance.

However, the decision to form yet another task team to resolve the matter means that residents of the Bay will again have to wait for the party to restart a complex and elaborate process which has been done before.

It is therefore difficult not to conclude that the dilly-dallying by the ANC around this issue could be to protect the political interests of those who lead it.

Any decision taken, whether for or against mayor Zanoxolo Wayile, will certainly have consequences for the decision-makers at the national elective conference in Mangaung and the provincial elective conference next year.

Of course it is necessary to look at challenges plaguing our municipalities comprehensively.

But whether this task team will speedily come back with results remains to be seen.

Similar task teams, such as the one probing alleged manipulation of election candidates lists last year, are yet to make a ruling.