ANC conference delayed
2012-12-16 10:03
Bloemfontein - An hour after the ANC's national conference was supposed to start on Sunday morning, delegates were still queuing to get into the venue at the University of the Free State.
Others were standing in line for breakfast.
"You cannot have a conference without delegates," a passing ANC official said, referring to the queue at the breakfast venue.
Spirits were high among members dressed in black and white African National Congress T-shirts.
"We have arrived. We are members of Umkhonto. The bazooka is going to shoot," they sang in isiZulu.
Most of the delegates held up two fingers, signifying a second term as ANC leader for President Jacob Zuma. One woman was rolling her hands, signalling a call for a change in leadership.
Delegates also sang: "The day has arrived which we have been longing for. We know who we are going to elect."
Zuma had been scheduled to give his political report to the conference at 09:30. Because of the delay, he was expected to speak at 11:30.
On Sunday night delegates would nominate their preferred candidates for the African National Congress's top six officials. The electoral commission would then reveal who had accepted nomination.
Delegates would also get to nominate candidates from the floor, provided that 25% of those present supported this.
- SAPA
