N Cape ANC leader re-elected

2008-08-29 08:17

Moshaweng - John Block was re-elected as the Northern Cape's ANC leader on Friday at the party's provincial conference at Moshaweng, north of Kuruman.

Block, with 255 votes, won the leadership race against outgoing provincial secretary Neville Mompati, with 136 votes, in a strongly contested campaign in the province the last months.

Some 392 delegates voted for the new leadership.

The conference, which was delayed initially by technical problems for most of the week, continued through Thursday night while delegates went to vote on all five top positions.

The winners were announced early on Friday morning.

The rest of the top five elected were Kenny Mmoeimang as deputy-chairperson, Zumani Saul as provincial secretary, Alvin Botes as deputy-secretary and Yolanda Botha as treasurer.

Mantashe urges unity

After announcing the new leadership ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe urged delegate and the new leadership for unity in the party in the province.

"You are not going to behave like the leaders of a faction," said Mantashe.

"The ANC must be the winner."

Mantashe said the new leadership should also not be undermined by party members.

Earlier, he said the party in the Northern Cape should focus on discipline and reiterated recent decisions of the national executive committee of the ANC in regard bad behaviour by members.

This includes such actions as assault, unruly behaviour and taking the party to court.

- SAPA