ANC given all clear to resume conference
2012-12-19 18:59
Bloemfontein - The ANC on Wednesday said that the weather bureau had given the all clear for the resumption of the party's elective conference in Mangaung, after safety concerns arose due to an approaching storm.
"The weather bureau has given clearance that the storms as predicted was not heavy as anticipated. The ANC has been given clearance to continue utilising all the marquees in all venues of the conference."
"This therefore gives clearance to the ANC to continue with today’s plenary programme, including the commencement of commission reports,"spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said in a statement.
Earlier, party secretary general Gwede Mantashe said the plenary session was adjourned because of an
incoming storm.
"Emergency centres and disaster teams said a storm
is coming," he told reporters.
"We didn’t want the media to get it from sources and
speculation. We wanted to say that we have adjourned the plenary and advised
all delegates to go to solid structures."
He said the storm would last for 45 minutes. Mantashe
also advised the media to go to solid structures, instead of waiting in tents.
Asked in lighter vein if the storm might be the result of
the ANC's ancestors being upset, Mantashe said: "Rain is a blessing. A
storm is rain in a different form."
He said the storm would not affect the conference, as the
report backs by policy commissions to plenary would be done at night.
Mthembu said people in the
Progressive Business Forum had to leave their exhibition tent.
Delegates waiting in queues to vote for the ANC’s 80
national executive committee members were also evacuated.
"We didn"t want anyone to be a victim of this
Manguang storm," he said to laughter.
"It is quite a serious matter, and we would rather
be safe than sorry."
- SAPA
