No limit on ANC terms

2007-12-20 16:19

Polokwane - Placing time limits on the terms of office of ANC leaders was not discussed during its national conference, Collins Chabane, who headed the conference's constitutional amendment committees, said on Thursday.

The matter of limiting terms fell foul of the procedures required to make such changes, he said. "It was not an issue at conference," said Chabane.

In the face of tensions between supporters of former ANC president Thabo Mbeki and his successor Jacob Zuma it was speculated that there may be a constitutional amendment by the party to limit the terms of office, to prevent Mbeki from being re-elected.

"No notice was served for the amendment which limits the terms of office of the ANC," said Chabane.

To carry out amendments to the party's constitution, in terms of procedure, the secretary general must be given notice of this intention three months before its conference.

The current constitution states that leaders must be elected every five years at its national conference.

According to the commission's reports and draft resolutions, the head of the ANC's presidency was expected to remain that "preferably" the head of the party also be the head of the country.

Other amendments expected to be adopted at the party's plenaries on Thursday include increasing the number of women in party structures to at least 50%, but this would not be applied to the top six positions.

"There is no special reservations for the top six," said Chabane.

The NEC was also increased to 86 to give the party a greater pool of NEC members to go out to work with branches, as many are currently in government.

It would also recognise the Veterans League, giving it voting rights in the next conference, but the number of voting delegates had not yet been clarified.

The party would also set up a disciplinary appeals panel.

- SAPA