FState ANC conference on track

2008-07-15 18:05

Bloemfontein - The ANC's Free state provincial congress will go ahead as planned in Parys next week, the party said on Tuesday.

African National Congress provincial spokesperson Qondile Khedama said the event would take place from July 23 to 27.

Khedama said the conference would be interrupted on July 26 for delegates to travel to Sebokeng in Gauteng for the reburial of a party official.

Free State provincial executive committee member Mxolisi Dukwana confirmed the conference was on track despite court applications filed at the Bloemfontein High Court earlier.

The party in the province faces two court applications which question certain branch and regional meetings in respect to alleged manipulated member lists.

Dukwana said the ANC was a voluntary organisation.

"Still, if a person was not happy with the processes of the organisation that person has a responsibility as a member of the ANC to write to the ANC and to complain to the structures of the organisation," he said.

"We expect every member of the ANC to do that."

The northern Free State town of Parys, where this year's conference takes place, is the home of current Free State ANC chairman Ace Magashule.

The ANC's provincial congress in Mpumalanga, initially scheduled to be held in Badplaas at the weekend, was on Monday postponed.

Provincial spokesperson Paul Mbenyane said: "We were in an assessment meeting this morning (Monday) and we realised that we are not ready... hence it (the conference) has been postponed."

Branches were still holding meetings to nominate delegates for the conference, he said.

A new date for the congress is still to be determined.

- SAPA