By warring factions in the province’s ANC Amathole Region have turned to social media to ridicule their opponents by posting memes. At the centre of the insults, taunts and verbal attacks is the region’s failure to hold a regional general council for the past three years and the poor handling of the Amathole District Municipality’s finances.
The region, which covers areas such as Alice, Fort Beaufort, Butterworth, Dutywa and Kei Mouth, is due to find a replacement for Sakhumzi Somyo, the regional chairman who was elected onto the provincial executive committee in June 2013 as provincial deputy chairman.
The region is now divided between supporters of Nkonkobe mayor Anele Ntsangani and Eastern Cape Liqour Board CEO Khanyile Maneli as a possible replacement for Somyo.
Currently doing the rounds on Facebook are memes distributed by Amathole ANC members featuring Kermit the frog saying: “In three years you failed to deliver one basic regional general council but you claim to have capacity to recall or deploy councillors and mayors.”
Another meme sees famous cartoon character the Pink Panther asking: “Question: Is it true that ADM is technically bankrupt?”
The Pink Panther then gives a response in the same meme: “AAG as long as we manipulate Interim Branch Committees and BGMs, the balance of forces will favour us.”
Regional secretary Terris Ntuthu told the Saturday Dispatch yesterday they were aware of the memes.
“We know who posted those pictures on Facebook and in line with that there is a clear resolution by the national leadership of the ANC on how we need to deal with people who are bringing the name of the organisation into disrepute on social networks,” Ntuthu said.
“The conduct of ANC members on the social network is clearly explained in terms of what is expected from them.
“We are going to refer this matter to the provincial and the national disciplinary committee to check whether there is a case of misconduct or not.”
The Dispatch reported two weeks ago that ADM was so cash-strapped during the 2014-15 financial year that it only had R30-million in cash reserves on December 31 2015.
This was despite the municipality having to pay R5-million a month for salaries for the following six months as well as leases, telephone accounts and other daily expenses.
In his recent organisational report, provincial ANC secretary Oscar Mabuyane said despite many attempts to convene a special regional general council to fill the vacancy of chairman, to date ANC Amathole had been unsuccessful due to its failure to attain a 70% threshold of branches in good standing.
He also said the region had experienced a serious decline in membership.
According to Mabuyane, branch audits revealed poor administration caused by branch executive committees, dysfunctional sub-regional structures and infighting in branches.
“The region is faced with emerging trends of disunity, mistrust and suspicion amongst its members.”
Ntuthu said they had now achieved the 70% threshold to elect new leaders.
“We are ready to elect any day. We are a region within a province and there is a provincial leadership.
“We are going to wait for the leadership to give us the go-ahead to elect new leadership,” he said.
ANC factions turn to memes to taunt foes
The region, which covers areas such as Alice, Fort Beaufort, Butterworth, Dutywa and Kei Mouth, is due to find a replacement for Sakhumzi Somyo, the regional chairman who was elected onto the provincial executive committee in June 2013 as provincial deputy chairman.
The region is now divided between supporters of Nkonkobe mayor Anele Ntsangani and Eastern Cape Liqour Board CEO Khanyile Maneli as a possible replacement for Somyo.
Currently doing the rounds on Facebook are memes distributed by Amathole ANC members featuring Kermit the frog saying: “In three years you failed to deliver one basic regional general council but you claim to have capacity to recall or deploy councillors and mayors.”
Another meme sees famous cartoon character the Pink Panther asking: “Question: Is it true that ADM is technically bankrupt?”
The Pink Panther then gives a response in the same meme: “AAG as long as we manipulate Interim Branch Committees and BGMs, the balance of forces will favour us.”
Regional secretary Terris Ntuthu told the Saturday Dispatch yesterday they were aware of the memes.
“We know who posted those pictures on Facebook and in line with that there is a clear resolution by the national leadership of the ANC on how we need to deal with people who are bringing the name of the organisation into disrepute on social networks,” Ntuthu said.
“The conduct of ANC members on the social network is clearly explained in terms of what is expected from them.
“We are going to refer this matter to the provincial and the national disciplinary committee to check whether there is a case of misconduct or not.”
The Dispatch reported two weeks ago that ADM was so cash-strapped during the 2014-15 financial year that it only had R30-million in cash reserves on December 31 2015.
This was despite the municipality having to pay R5-million a month for salaries for the following six months as well as leases, telephone accounts and other daily expenses.
In his recent organisational report, provincial ANC secretary Oscar Mabuyane said despite many attempts to convene a special regional general council to fill the vacancy of chairman, to date ANC Amathole had been unsuccessful due to its failure to attain a 70% threshold of branches in good standing.
He also said the region had experienced a serious decline in membership.
According to Mabuyane, branch audits revealed poor administration caused by branch executive committees, dysfunctional sub-regional structures and infighting in branches.
“The region is faced with emerging trends of disunity, mistrust and suspicion amongst its members.”
Ntuthu said they had now achieved the 70% threshold to elect new leaders.
“We are ready to elect any day. We are a region within a province and there is a provincial leadership.
“We are going to wait for the leadership to give us the go-ahead to elect new leadership,” he said.
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