JUST eight days before the elections, supporters of the ANC in Buffalo City’s Ward 1 are deeply divided over the party’s decision to field Kuhle Chiliza as the ward candidate.
The matter was complicated recently when some areas within the ward did not receive wheeliebins which were being distributed across the metro for all ratepayers last month.
Ward 1 committee member Alice Calverly led a delegation to the metro demanding to be included in the list of beneficiaries who were entitled to get the bins.
Calverley said some Ward 1 residents, who included people living in Duncan Village, Pefferville and Braelyn, had been sidelined from receiving the bins “because of our wavering stance over the ANC ward candidate”.
The ward is divided between Chiliza supporters and those supporting former BCM councillor Mxolisi Koko Qebeyi.
Qebeyi came tops as the ANC’s preferred ward councillor candidate during a branch meeting.
His nomination received an endorsement a few weeks later during a public meeting.
But when the election candidates’ lists were published on July 1, Chiliza’s name appeared on the IEC list.
Now ANC members and supporters of Qebeyi to become the councillor are threatening to vote for opposition parties come election day.
Another Ward 1 committee member, Jenine Konza, said their comrades were “very angry that the list committees decided to overrule the will of the people.
“ANC branch members wanted Qebeyi. The screening committee confirmed his nomination.
“To our shock now, we have a face of another candidate.
ANC supporters at war over candidate
The matter was complicated recently when some areas within the ward did not receive wheeliebins which were being distributed across the metro for all ratepayers last month.
Ward 1 committee member Alice Calverly led a delegation to the metro demanding to be included in the list of beneficiaries who were entitled to get the bins.
Calverley said some Ward 1 residents, who included people living in Duncan Village, Pefferville and Braelyn, had been sidelined from receiving the bins “because of our wavering stance over the ANC ward candidate”.
The ward is divided between Chiliza supporters and those supporting former BCM councillor Mxolisi Koko Qebeyi.
Qebeyi came tops as the ANC’s preferred ward councillor candidate during a branch meeting.
His nomination received an endorsement a few weeks later during a public meeting.
But when the election candidates’ lists were published on July 1, Chiliza’s name appeared on the IEC list.
Now ANC members and supporters of Qebeyi to become the councillor are threatening to vote for opposition parties come election day.
Another Ward 1 committee member, Jenine Konza, said their comrades were “very angry that the list committees decided to overrule the will of the people.
“ANC branch members wanted Qebeyi. The screening committee confirmed his nomination.
“To our shock now, we have a face of another candidate.
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