Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
ANC: ‘We’ll get our house in order’
THE ANC is forging ahead with trying to get its house in order following the dissolution of the Dullah Omar Region.
The party’s interim provincial committee (IPC) dissolved the region after it failed to prove its readiness to hold its regional conference this month. Senior politician and MP Richard Dyantyi is tasked to lead the region as it prepares to elect leaders who will participate in the provincial conference, then later a national conference.
The head of organisers in the province, Mvusi Mvala, is the co-ordinator of the team.
Provincial spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni said: “There is a national deadline for regions to go to (the) conference. What the province then did, instead of appointing a new task team, (it decided that) there would be an IPCled process.”
Other members of the team include the leader in the provincial legislature Cameron Dugmore, ANCYL convenor Nonceba Mhlauli, and Mtsweni.
Dugmore is expected to oversee the work of the ANC caucus in council. “The city caucus has always fallen under the office of province,” said Mtsweni. “We have always had an angle as it relates to matters of the city council.”
Mtsweni is convinced the region under their leadership will meet deadlines. He called for branches to work towards the regional conference.
“Our interest is that the comrades in Dullah Omar must have elected leadership. We want everyone to have a fair process; ultimately we want comrades to ensure that BGMs (branch general meetings) sit successfully so that they can go to regional the conference and elect the leaders of their choice.”
All those rumoured to be interested in leading the region have remained quiet when asked for comments. They said the decision lied with the branches.
Current ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa is tipped to secure a second term at the party’s national elective conference.
Political lecturer and analyst Dr Trust Matsile Matsilele said the dissolution of the region was a move by the president’s aligned faction.
“The faction aligned to the president is consolidating power by all and every means. This move, barring merits of the matter, further entrenches perceptions that the dominant faction is playing every trick in the book to ensure the free sailing of the president for the second term.”