Security a priority ahead of ANC’S Upington indaba

A MASSIVE, inflatable marquee, courtesy of Kenny Kunene’s Zar company and nicknamed “Pop-up Zar”, will house Northern Cape ANC delegates who began arriving in Upington yesterday, amid a heavy police and security presence, for the party’s provincial conference.

Voting for the top five positions of the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC) is expected to take place tomorrow night, during which Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant is expected to contest incumbent John Block for the party’s top position in the province.

A memorial lecture on former ANC president Albert Xuma was hosted by ANC national executive committee member Dr Ngoako Ramatlhodi last night.

Gayton McKenzie, Kunene’s business partner, was on the site yesterday afternoon to check on the final preparations for the event.

Late yesterday afternoon, organisers were putting the finishing touches to large tents intended to house approximately 800 voting and non-voting delegates at Die Eiland pleasure resort. About 535 ANC members will vote for the new provincial executive, with the Frances Baard district bringing the majority of delegates and Namaqua the fewest.

ANC provincial secretary Zamani Saul said the party was implementing strict security measures to avoid a repeat of the violence experienced during its 2007 conference in Moshaweng.

He said that during the party’s 176 nomination branch general meetings, only nine complaints had been sent to the PEC. He said these had already been resolved.

President Jacob Zuma was expected to address the conference today. Saul added that nominations for the PEC had not been revealed, but had been handed to an independent elections overseer.

Saul said a security task team had been established under provincial chairman Block.

Private security had also been hired, and about 100 ANC marshals would also be on hand to ensure the safety of delegates, he said.

Saul said it was also the state’s responsibility to ensure the safety of members of the provincial government who attend the conference.