N Cape ANC chair apologises

2008-08-28 08:29

Moshaweng - Outgoing Northern Cape ANC chairperson John Block apologised on Thursday for the behaviour of some party members in the run-up to a provincial conference that has been marred by in-fighting.

"The conduct we have witnessed in the past few months has been destructive, negative, divisive, violent and reactionary and has damaged the standing of the movement in the province," said Block.

He was delivering his chairperson's report at the provincial conference at the Moshaweng municipal complex north of Kuruman in the early hours of Thursday.

The conference got under way just before midnight on Wednesday after another day of delays and top level negotiations behind closed doors.

Block told delegates that people should never sacrifice their lives for an ANC that was at war with itself.

Violence, delays

Supporters for Block and provincial secretary Neville Mompati, who is contesting the chairmanship, had allegedly been involved in several incidents of violence at party meetings in the run-up to the provincial conference.

The provincial conference itself was delayed for almost three days due to the number of disputes that have arisen since its scheduled start on Monday.

Block said party members were fighting over a privilege to lead.

"It was in bad taste and totally unacceptable."

Block said there was no feud between him and Mompati.

"I have no enemy in Neville Mompati and he has no enemy in me," Block told the conference.

However, Block said people who were representing him and Mompati in their respective campaigns were not talking to each other.

"They do not talk, yet we (Block and Mompati) talk."

Block urged provincial leaders to accept and respect preferences expressed by branches, especially when it was against them.

The conference was adjourned at about 01.15 after Block gave his chairperson's report.

The conference is expected to continue at about 09:00 on Thursday.

- SAPA