The new leadership of the ANC Women’s League in Buffalo City was elected over the weekend amid allegations that proper processes were not followed.
A tough race was expected with the elected having influence in the ANC general council in June.
The conference, held at the Gonubie Hall, started on Friday and ended in the early hours of Saturday.
Elections for the party’s Buffalo City regional executive committee are also due this month.
Allegations were rife yesterday that the newly-elected regional ANC Women’s League leadership was populated by members close to the ANC’s BCM regional secretary, Pumlani Mkolo.
The Dispatch reported last month that Mkolo’s position was under threat as his name appears in only one of three line-ups of members facing nomination.
The newly-elected ANC Women’s League regional leaders are chairwoman Clara Yekiso-Morolong, deputy chairwoman Matsepo Nkopo, secretary Fikiswa Gomba, deputy secretary Nontsikelelo Peter and treasurer Zininzi Mtyingizane.
Two members of branches in Buffalo City claimed yesterday that proper processes were not followed.
The disgruntled branches were expected to appeal to the national office this week.
Steve Tshwete branch acting secretary Nozandile Mhlola said many delegates from legitimate branches were left out of the conference.
“We were sidelined. This conference was stolen by Mkolo and his supporters. Those who participated were all from parallel structures formed to replace legitimate branches.”
Mhlola also said the registration of delegates was not conducted at the conference.
“We were told in SMSes that the venue was Gonubie and all of a sudden people were moved to the regional office in Duncan Village and Clara’s office.”
Nozizwe Ondala of Mdyongolo Yure branch said: “Mkolo made sure that whoever is going to be in the top five is going to support him to remain in the regional executive as we are approaching the regional elections.
“It is well-known that these are his people. But, what is sad was that ANC processes were not followed and that registration ended up being held at Clara’s office.”
However, Yekiso-Morolong denied the allegations, saying the comments were made by disillusioned members who wanted to disrupt the conference.
Yekiso-Morolong confirmed that Mkolo was at the conference, but was only there because the league had invited the ANC Buffalo City region.
“We invited Cosatu, the ANC Youth League, the South African Communist Party and the ANC provincial executive committee. Mkolo is the secretary of the BC region.”
She said proper processes were followed and that the move to ANC offices in Duncan Village, where her office was based, was communicated to delegates.
“Delegates were informed of the move because we could not get another venue in Gonubie, where registration was going to be done. It would have been chaotic to have registration done at the same venue as the conference.”
She said branches were audited and that no parallel structures were set up to represent branches.
Attempts to get comment from Mkolo were unsuccessful. —msindisif@dispatch.co.za
ANCWL elections ‘set up’ in Mkolo’s favour
A tough race was expected with the elected having influence in the ANC general council in June.
The conference, held at the Gonubie Hall, started on Friday and ended in the early hours of Saturday.
Elections for the party’s Buffalo City regional executive committee are also due this month.
Allegations were rife yesterday that the newly-elected regional ANC Women’s League leadership was populated by members close to the ANC’s BCM regional secretary, Pumlani Mkolo.
The Dispatch reported last month that Mkolo’s position was under threat as his name appears in only one of three line-ups of members facing nomination.
The newly-elected ANC Women’s League regional leaders are chairwoman Clara Yekiso-Morolong, deputy chairwoman Matsepo Nkopo, secretary Fikiswa Gomba, deputy secretary Nontsikelelo Peter and treasurer Zininzi Mtyingizane.
Two members of branches in Buffalo City claimed yesterday that proper processes were not followed.
The disgruntled branches were expected to appeal to the national office this week.
Steve Tshwete branch acting secretary Nozandile Mhlola said many delegates from legitimate branches were left out of the conference.
“We were sidelined. This conference was stolen by Mkolo and his supporters. Those who participated were all from parallel structures formed to replace legitimate branches.”
Mhlola also said the registration of delegates was not conducted at the conference.
“We were told in SMSes that the venue was Gonubie and all of a sudden people were moved to the regional office in Duncan Village and Clara’s office.”
Nozizwe Ondala of Mdyongolo Yure branch said: “Mkolo made sure that whoever is going to be in the top five is going to support him to remain in the regional executive as we are approaching the regional elections.
“It is well-known that these are his people. But, what is sad was that ANC processes were not followed and that registration ended up being held at Clara’s office.”
However, Yekiso-Morolong denied the allegations, saying the comments were made by disillusioned members who wanted to disrupt the conference.
Yekiso-Morolong confirmed that Mkolo was at the conference, but was only there because the league had invited the ANC Buffalo City region.
“We invited Cosatu, the ANC Youth League, the South African Communist Party and the ANC provincial executive committee. Mkolo is the secretary of the BC region.”
She said proper processes were followed and that the move to ANC offices in Duncan Village, where her office was based, was communicated to delegates.
“Delegates were informed of the move because we could not get another venue in Gonubie, where registration was going to be done. It would have been chaotic to have registration done at the same venue as the conference.”
She said branches were audited and that no parallel structures were set up to represent branches.
Attempts to get comment from Mkolo were unsuccessful. —msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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