There are no discussions underway to remove ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe‚ the party said in a statement on Monday.
ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said reports – citing nameless sources who claim that the special national executive committee meeting currently underway was discussing removing Mantashe from his post – were incorrect.
Kodwa took the extraordinary step of issuing a statement before the meeting concluded to quash the rumours. This came as President Jacob Zuma's backers took issue with the national working committee report delivered to the meeting on Saturday.
The NEC meeting was continuing on Monday‚ with a focus on whether or not the outcome of the ANC’s Eastern Cape conference would be set aside.
Kodwa confirmed that the NEC resumed on Monday‚ after the meeting was adjourned to allow the National Working Committee to "refine" its report on the Eastern Cape conference.
The matter is currently being debated in the NEC.
The NEC will also discuss Mantashe's draft organisational report to the national conference in December.
Sources sympathetic to presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Sunday said Mantashe is set to face an uphill battle at the meeting‚ due to his perceived handling of the Eastern Cape matter.
The Eastern Cape conference held in September turned violent‚ and a group of delegates left the venue. The election of the new provincial leadership went ahead‚ resulting in the election of former secretary Oscar Mabuyane as chairman. The conference also endorsed deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed President Jacob Zuma at the national conference in December.
But the faction aligned to Zuma and presidential contender Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in the province‚ along with ousted chairman Phumulo Masaulle‚ lodged a complaint with Luthuli House‚ citing irregularities ahead of and during the conference.
Insiders on Sunday said the Eastern Cape matter was critical to the outcome of the December conference‚ at which the race between Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma is a close one.
The ANC’’s NEC is also heavily divided over support for the pair‚ with the Zuma faction continuing to enjoy a slight majority.
A decision by the NEC to disband the newly elected Eastern Cape leadership would be a blow for Ramaphosa’s campaign. If the leadership is disbanded‚ the NEC would also have to decide whether to reinstate the ousted provincial executive committee‚ or put in place a task team to run the province until a re-run of the conference is held.
ANC denies push to oust Mantashe at NEC meeting
ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said reports – citing nameless sources who claim that the special national executive committee meeting currently underway was discussing removing Mantashe from his post – were incorrect.
Kodwa took the extraordinary step of issuing a statement before the meeting concluded to quash the rumours. This came as President Jacob Zuma's backers took issue with the national working committee report delivered to the meeting on Saturday.
The NEC meeting was continuing on Monday‚ with a focus on whether or not the outcome of the ANC’s Eastern Cape conference would be set aside.
Kodwa confirmed that the NEC resumed on Monday‚ after the meeting was adjourned to allow the National Working Committee to "refine" its report on the Eastern Cape conference.
The matter is currently being debated in the NEC.
The NEC will also discuss Mantashe's draft organisational report to the national conference in December.
Sources sympathetic to presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Sunday said Mantashe is set to face an uphill battle at the meeting‚ due to his perceived handling of the Eastern Cape matter.
The Eastern Cape conference held in September turned violent‚ and a group of delegates left the venue. The election of the new provincial leadership went ahead‚ resulting in the election of former secretary Oscar Mabuyane as chairman. The conference also endorsed deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed President Jacob Zuma at the national conference in December.
But the faction aligned to Zuma and presidential contender Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in the province‚ along with ousted chairman Phumulo Masaulle‚ lodged a complaint with Luthuli House‚ citing irregularities ahead of and during the conference.
Insiders on Sunday said the Eastern Cape matter was critical to the outcome of the December conference‚ at which the race between Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma is a close one.
The ANC’’s NEC is also heavily divided over support for the pair‚ with the Zuma faction continuing to enjoy a slight majority.
A decision by the NEC to disband the newly elected Eastern Cape leadership would be a blow for Ramaphosa’s campaign. If the leadership is disbanded‚ the NEC would also have to decide whether to reinstate the ousted provincial executive committee‚ or put in place a task team to run the province until a re-run of the conference is held.
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