ANC leaders from OR Tambo, Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, Nelson Mandela Metro, Buffalo City Metro regions as well as some provincial leaders this week reaffirmed their support for current party provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane.
This follows an emergency meeting after a Daily Dispatch report that the Chris Hani region was ditching Mabuyane in the party’s up-coming elective conference.
The leaders met on Tuesday night where they reaffirmed their support for Mabuyane and the incumbent provincial leadership.
Sources with inside knowledge of the meeting told the Dispatch that the Sarah Baartman (Cacadu) region was not represented at the meeting.
Chris Hani was represented only by Mabuyane’s right hand man Mxolisi Koyo at the meeting.
This week the Chris Hani region resolved to support MPL Michael Peter for the position of secretary and incumbent Phumulo Masualle for chairman.
Of eight subregions represented in the meeting only one raised the name of Mabuyane.
The Tuesday meeting resolved to influence branch delegates to nominate the current leadership – comprising Masualle as chairman, Mabuyane as secretary, Helen Sauls-August as deputy secretary and Thandiswa Marawu as treasurer – and to campaign for the vacancy of deputy chairman be filled by newly elected Amathole regional chairman Sakhumzi Somyo.
This lobby group enjoys the support of the secretaries and chairs of the Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, BCM, Amathole and Nelson Mandela regions, while in OR Tambo they have received support from the deputy chairman and secretary.
A “political brief” from the group of leaders states: “Our focus is on ensuring that there is no contest in the conference. If it happens, it will be fine.
“We need to consolidate support now so that when the conference ends, we will not be delayed by post-conference disputes and hit the ground running.”
According to a provincial leader, the regional and sub-regional leaders reacted with shock after the Chris Hani leadership rejected Mabuyane’s second term bid.
“All leaders were there and it was agreed that the status quo must remain and that comrade Somyo should take up the position of deputy chairman.
“There were other names that were raised but his name was the most dominant and it was agreed that we will push this when we lobby at branch level.
“We agreed to keep the current leadership for another term because we were satisfied with the way they have managed the ANC over the past few years,” he said.
Additional members proposed by the lobby group include local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, TenTen Pikinini, Mcebisi Jonas, Noxolo Kiviet, Xolile Nqatha, Nomakhosazana Meth, Alfred Nzo district mayor Eunice Diko, Makana councillor Julia Wells, MPL Mzoleli Mrara, Tozama Mantashe, Deputy Minister of Communications Stella Ndabeni, Kulukazi Pangwa, Nancy Sihlwayi, Prince Mancotywa and newly elected Mbizana mayor Makhaya Twabu.
OR Tambo, however, is divided on who they want in the top five.
Some want Mancotywa to fill the position of deputy chairman whilst others support Somyo for the position.
Joe Gqabi regional secretary Loyiso Magqashela said his region was singing with one voice that the leadership elected at River Park should continue leading for the next term.
“We met as the leadership and when we looked at the current leadership we said ‘let them continue to lead’. We also looked at who can play a key role in assisting that top four, we evaluated some candidates but I must indicate that we find comfort in the name of Sakhumzi Somyo.”
Provincial ANC spokesman Qoboshiyane said branch general meetings (BGMs) would start today. He confirmed the PEC had received the signed audit report by the secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.
About 500 branches with about 1500 branch delegates will attend the conference.
“They have 35 days to conduct BGMs to nominate delegates and the leadership.
“Our expectation is that the work is supposed to start today.
“The PEC will be working with the national deployees and the national office for the appointment of the electoral agency.
“It means officially the branches as well as the lobbying can now move into full swing … caucuses can start amongst regions,” he said. —
Mabuyane lobby reaffirms support
This follows an emergency meeting after a Daily Dispatch report that the Chris Hani region was ditching Mabuyane in the party’s up-coming elective conference.
The leaders met on Tuesday night where they reaffirmed their support for Mabuyane and the incumbent provincial leadership.
Sources with inside knowledge of the meeting told the Dispatch that the Sarah Baartman (Cacadu) region was not represented at the meeting.
Chris Hani was represented only by Mabuyane’s right hand man Mxolisi Koyo at the meeting.
This week the Chris Hani region resolved to support MPL Michael Peter for the position of secretary and incumbent Phumulo Masualle for chairman.
Of eight subregions represented in the meeting only one raised the name of Mabuyane.
The Tuesday meeting resolved to influence branch delegates to nominate the current leadership – comprising Masualle as chairman, Mabuyane as secretary, Helen Sauls-August as deputy secretary and Thandiswa Marawu as treasurer – and to campaign for the vacancy of deputy chairman be filled by newly elected Amathole regional chairman Sakhumzi Somyo.
This lobby group enjoys the support of the secretaries and chairs of the Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, BCM, Amathole and Nelson Mandela regions, while in OR Tambo they have received support from the deputy chairman and secretary.
A “political brief” from the group of leaders states: “Our focus is on ensuring that there is no contest in the conference. If it happens, it will be fine.
“We need to consolidate support now so that when the conference ends, we will not be delayed by post-conference disputes and hit the ground running.”
According to a provincial leader, the regional and sub-regional leaders reacted with shock after the Chris Hani leadership rejected Mabuyane’s second term bid.
“All leaders were there and it was agreed that the status quo must remain and that comrade Somyo should take up the position of deputy chairman.
“There were other names that were raised but his name was the most dominant and it was agreed that we will push this when we lobby at branch level.
“We agreed to keep the current leadership for another term because we were satisfied with the way they have managed the ANC over the past few years,” he said.
Additional members proposed by the lobby group include local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, BCM mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, TenTen Pikinini, Mcebisi Jonas, Noxolo Kiviet, Xolile Nqatha, Nomakhosazana Meth, Alfred Nzo district mayor Eunice Diko, Makana councillor Julia Wells, MPL Mzoleli Mrara, Tozama Mantashe, Deputy Minister of Communications Stella Ndabeni, Kulukazi Pangwa, Nancy Sihlwayi, Prince Mancotywa and newly elected Mbizana mayor Makhaya Twabu.
OR Tambo, however, is divided on who they want in the top five.
Some want Mancotywa to fill the position of deputy chairman whilst others support Somyo for the position.
Joe Gqabi regional secretary Loyiso Magqashela said his region was singing with one voice that the leadership elected at River Park should continue leading for the next term.
“We met as the leadership and when we looked at the current leadership we said ‘let them continue to lead’. We also looked at who can play a key role in assisting that top four, we evaluated some candidates but I must indicate that we find comfort in the name of Sakhumzi Somyo.”
Provincial ANC spokesman Qoboshiyane said branch general meetings (BGMs) would start today. He confirmed the PEC had received the signed audit report by the secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.
About 500 branches with about 1500 branch delegates will attend the conference.
“They have 35 days to conduct BGMs to nominate delegates and the leadership.
“Our expectation is that the work is supposed to start today.
“The PEC will be working with the national deployees and the national office for the appointment of the electoral agency.
“It means officially the branches as well as the lobbying can now move into full swing … caucuses can start amongst regions,” he said. —
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