ANC leader’s startling testimony

SIX people were injured in a clash between rival ANC supporters at a meeting of the Ukhahlamba regional general council in Ladysmith on Sunday.

The region is due to hold a regional conference this weekend, but ANC members in the region – some of them supporters of the provincial leadership and others allied to those who want the provincial executive committee (PEC) nullified – fought over whether the conference should take place.

Part of the dispute was that the PEC could not facilitate the sitting of the regional conference expected to take place this weekend.

Ukhahlamba regional secretary Sipho Hlomuka said the PEC had asked the region to call the leaders of 68 branches to brief them about the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling which found that the 2015 conference that elected provincial chairperson Sihle Zikalala and his PEC was unlawful.

Those who successfully challenged the conference in court are linked to former chairperson Senzo Mchunu, who was unseated by Zikalala. Zikalala enjoys support of the regional leadership.

Mchunu’s supporters had opposed the conference being held this weekend, while the PEC, which has the power to facilitate regional conferences, had not resolved the issue of its status. “The uninvited people refused to leave the hall, therefore we moved delegates out and requested the security to intervene.

Teargas

“They refused to leave. Teargas was used and one person was injured, though I don’t how it happened,” he said.

However, former ANC regional chairperson Thulani Sibeko said three women, two men and a security guard were injured.

Hlomuka said it was the PEC that had asked the regional executive committee to call the meeting.

The regional conference would take place on Saturday and Sunday, facilitated by the nullified PEC.

Speaking for the anti-PEC group, Sibeko said the PEC could not oversee the sitting of the regional conference.

“We were there to question how the conference is expected to go ahead while there are over 30 unresolved disputes. On top of that is the problem of the nullified committee,” he said.

ANC provincial spokesperson Mdumiseni Ntuli said the PEC “can and will run any conference that is ready to take place”.

“All regions are due (to hold conferences) and it will depend on which one finishes its BGMs (branch general meetings) first,” he said.