Stamp out factionalism in ANC - KZN
2012-05-13 22:39
Newcastle - Factionalism within the ANC continued to corrode the moral fibre of the ruling party, KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala said on Sunday.
"This includes a tendency of a winner-takes-all which deprives the ANC of capable leaders," he said during the declaration at the party's provincial conference in Newcastle.
"Factionalism also finds expression in the use of resources and patronage which is used to indirectly coerce ANC delegates to conference."
Zikalala said the conference had declared that any person wanting to join the ANC had to be put on a six month probation period.
The KwaZulu-Natal delegates also felt that a party member could only be elected into a leadership role if they had been a member of the ANC for a minimum of five years.
"Any member elected to the PEC [provincial executive committee] or the NEC [national executive committee] should have served in lower structures of the ANC," Zikalala said.
During the three-day conference KwaZulu-Natal, which is the ANC's biggest province with more than 250 000 members, reiterated that it was united.
It is also President Jacob Zuma's home province and strongest support base.
Zuma plot
KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Zweli Mkhize denied being part of a plot to unseat Zuma.
"We have rejected the suggestion of being part of a plot to unseat president Zuma... No lies, no allegations of plots, no accusations of tribalism will separate us from president Zuma, he was elected to lead a collective at the last conference and we must all respect the decision of conference," he said.
Mkhize said it was odd that a province that had so strongly supported all three ANC presidents since 1994 should be subjected to accusations of attempting to unseat the national leadership.
Mkhize's name was reportedly amongst those of ANC leaders who were plotting to oust Zuma. Other leaders named in a report compiled by former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli were Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula and suspended police commissioner Bheki Cele.
On Friday, at the start of the conference Zuma arrived at the Newcastle Farmers Hall accompanied by Mkhize and Sexwale, who was the NEC deployee for the province. Cele also attended the conference.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal was urging government to reduce privatisation measures and play a bigger role in the economy.
"This will require the government to play an active role on the strategic sectors of the economy; in particular [in] mining, financial industry, agriculture and land redistribution," Zikalala said.
This emerged in the declaration made by the party at the conference.
Economy
The declaration called for the state to "play a more involved role" in growing the economy.
The conference adopted a number of resolutions over the weekend that would be taken along with the declaration of the party's national policy conference in June.
A resolution adopted by the ANC in the province was the need to regain support for the party in the Indian, coloured and white communities.
Cyril Xaba, the premier's advisor, said the conference noted "the decline of ANC membership in the minority communities, and that the ANC is still struggling to attract especially young Indians, coloureds and whites".
Xaba said the conference resolved to "instruct the incoming leadership to accelerate programs of recruitment in these areas as part of strengthening the non-racial character of the ANC".
Judiciary
Another resolution was taken on the conflict of interest in the judiciary.
The ANC in the province wanted judges to declare their interests and financial disclosure.
"Declaration of interest and financial disclosures enhance transparency and promote accountability and good governance," said Xaba.
The conference supported the call for routine disclosure of interests by all public office bearers, including judges.
Another resolution taken was on the disbanding of the ANC Youth League's provincial executive committee by the national leadership.
Xaba said the disbanding had left a leadership vacuum in the province and called on the NEC to resolve the matter.
Other resolutions taken included those on political assassinations, unemployment, poverty and inequality, violence against women and children, preparations for the 2014 elections, integrated long-term development planning and recognition of fallen heroes.
The congress ended on Sunday.
Provincial leadership
The provincial leadership remained the same after the weekend conference.
On Friday night, delegates at the congress unanimously decided to retain the same leadership led by Mkhize and forgo voting.
However, voting for additional provincial executive committee (PEC) members went ahead on Saturday.
Mkhize would remain in his position as chair. Deputy chairperson Willie Mchunu, secretary Sihle Zikalala, deputy secretary Nomusa Dube and treasurer Peggy Nkonyeni would also stay in their positions.
The additional PEC members included: Senzo Mchunu, Siyabonga Cwele, Ina Cronje, Bheki Ntuli, Ntombikayise Sibhidla, Lydia Johnson, Ravi Pillay, Mildred Olifant, Lungi Gcabase, Jabu Khumalo, Mthandeni Dlungwane, Nomvusa Shabalala, Ester Qwabe, Hlengiwe Mavimbela, Mxolisi Kaunda, Bongi Sithole, Senzo Mkhize, Lindiwe Njoko, Sipho Gcabase and Nigel Gumede.
- SAPA
