ANC provinces await NEC decision
2012-12-03 11:18
Johannesburg - The ANC in Limpopo and the Western Cape are awaiting a decision by the party's national executive committee (NEC) on whether they should hold provincial councils after both were marred by disruptions at the weekend.
Limpopo African National Congress spoksperson Makonde Mathivha said on Monday he was not sure if the province would hold another provincial general council [PGC].
"This conference is a national programme. If there are disruptions, the ultimate decision [to hold another conference] is in the hands of the secretary general [Gwede Mantashe]," he said.
"We as province are only mandated to do certain things. They [the NEC] will decide today [Monday] on what must happen."
The Limpopo ANC had to cancel its PGC on Friday night when a group of "violent hooligans" disrupted proceedings, Mathivha said at the time. He added that delegates had to flee the venue.
He claimed former provincial secretary Joe Maswanganye was part of the group, who wore T-shirts with President Jacob Zuma's face printed on them.
Maswanganye was defeated at Limpopo's provincial elective conference last year and was replaced by current secretary Soviet Lekganyane.
Lake of commitment
Western Cape ANC spoksperson Songezo Mjongile said he was not sure whether his province would hold another PGC.
"I am on the way to the office, and as far as I know nothing is happening yet."
The ANC 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.
Mjongile said on Sunday that the PGC had convened again at 21:00 on Saturday night, but had collapsed again.
He said there was a lack of commitment to the process.
"There were some disruptions by a group which did not want the PGC to conclude its business."
Mantashe told SAfm on Monday morning that the NEC would decide on Monday how to handle the two provinces.
"We will be dealing with... [Limpopo and the Western Cape] today. There's an NEC [meeting]," he said.
"...They've gone past the deadline. If there must be any exemption, it must be a resolution of the NEC," said Mantashe.
The deadline for provinces to nominate their preferred list of candidates for the party's leadership was on Friday.
Asked about "chaos and violence" at some provinces, Mantashe said: "That's why there's leadership in organisations. Leadership is there to deal with problems.
No disaster
"There's no disaster if you complete 10 provincial nomination conferences and there are problems at two."
The ANC leagues are regarded as provinces in the lead-up to the ANC national conference in Mangaung.
The North West ANC announced on Monday morning it would support Zuma for another term at the national conference this month.
The province started its nomination conference on Sunday, two days after the deadline.
The provincial general council (PGC) was supposed to be held at the Kosmos Hall in Hartbeespoort on Friday.
However, proceedings were delayed because of verification issues and because of a parallel conference being held in Mahikeng.
The parallel conference was organised by provincial secretary Kabelo Mataboge, who was supporting the nomination of deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe to take over from Zuma as president of the party.
- SAPA
