Divisive T-shirts banned at ANC conference

The ANC has banned the 1700 delegates attending the Eastern Cape provincial elective conference from wearing T-shirts displaying their preferred candidate inside the International Convention Centre.

This is according to outgoing ANC provincial spokesman Mlibo Qoboshiyane, who said this was meant to promote unity within the conference.

The OM17 branded T-shirts endorsing Oscar Mabuyane’s quest for the chairmanship and the PM17 in support of Phumulo Masualle’s third term attempt will have to be replaced by ANC T-shirts bearing no name of any contesting leaders.

Instead, the T-shirts that have been provided for all 1700 delegates attending the conference bear the face of the party’s longest-serving president, Oliver Tambo.

Qoboshiyane said unity in the conference was paramount.

This, he said, was in the spirit of showing respect to one another even if they differed in terms of who they wanted to take the party forward in the province.

Banning delegates from wearing T-shirts or singing songs perceived to be divisive is fast becoming an ANC phenomenon at conferences.

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