ANC in Limpopo, W Cape get 2nd chance

2012-12-05 07:22

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe holds a news conference in Johannesburg after the organisation's special national executive committee meeting. (Werner Beukes, Sapa)

Cape Town - The ANC in Limpopo and the Western Cape will get a second chance to hold their nomination conferences on Wednesday.

Both provincial general councils (PGC) were disrupted on Friday, which caused them to collapse.

Limpopo ANC members had to cancel their conference on Friday night when a group of "violent hooligans" wearing T-shirts with President Jacob Zuma's face printed on them disrupted proceedings, forcing delegates to flee the venue, spokesperson Makonde Mathivha said at the time.

The African National Congress in the Western Cape adjourned its PGC early on Saturday morning without endorsing candidates because of logistical delays, including with the verification of branch delegates.

The PGC reconvened again on Saturday night, but collapsed once more.

Provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile said there was a lack of commitment to the process and some disruptions by a group which did not want the council to conclude its business.

NEC meeting

The ANC's national executive committee (NEC) decided on Monday to allow the two provinces more time to conclude their nomination conferences. The official deadline was November 30.

The PGC allowed ANC members to nominate their preferred candidates for the party's leadership, to be elected at the party's national conference in Mangaung later this month.

Secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said if Limpopo and the Western Cape failed to successfully hold their conferences on Wednesday, they would forfeit their right to nominate.

They would, however, be able to nominate candidates from the floor at Mangaung, provided they had the backing of 25% of conference delegates.

- SAPA