United Democratic Movement (UDM) national bosses have given the party’s Eastern Cape district structures until next weekend to iron out discrepancies and queries from the party’s list conference.
The UDM held its provincial list conference at Khanyisa High School in Mthatha on Sunday and Monday where it was expected it would consolidate its proportional representative councillors’ list for the August3 municipal elections.
The party was supposed to finalise its list of candidates and submit it to the IEC.
However, it could not wrap up the process due to some queries regarding nomination of candidates to stand as councillors, party president Bantu Holomisa said yesterday.
Among the queries was that of former UDM provincial secretary Wandile Tsipa, said to be placed at number 17 in an OR Tambo ANC list that circulated on Friday.
Tsipa last week told the Daily Dispatch that his name appearing on the ANC list was part of a political smear campaign meant to discredit him ahead of the provincial list conference.
Holomisa told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that there was no evidence that proved Tsipa had defected.
“Tsipa is still a member of the UDM. There is no evidence that he is a member of the ANC but the onus is on him to take it up with the ANC on why his name appears in the list said to be theirs.
“Tsipa is still a member and he is eligible for all positions but we will investigate the matter,” said Holomisa.
Tsipa declined to comment yesterday, saying only: “A complaint has been lodged with the national office so I cannot comment further.”
It is not uncommon for the candidate lists of parties to be dogged by allegations of factionalism or party processes not being properly followed.
A lot of importance is placed on the lists, as the higher a name appears the more realistic the chance that person has of securing a seat in council.
Holomisa said they had given the OR Tambo, Chris Hani and Amathole regions until April 14 to address the discrepancies.
He said there were also issues over how candidates at King Sabata Dalindyebo were chosen.
“They must clean up their lists and address those queries because we do not want people to leave the UDM and stand as independent candidates,” he said.
Should discrepancies still appear after the May 14 deadline, national bosses would step in to give direction, the former army general said. — ndamasem@dispatc.co.za
UDM extends electoral list deadline
The UDM held its provincial list conference at Khanyisa High School in Mthatha on Sunday and Monday where it was expected it would consolidate its proportional representative councillors’ list for the August3 municipal elections.
The party was supposed to finalise its list of candidates and submit it to the IEC.
However, it could not wrap up the process due to some queries regarding nomination of candidates to stand as councillors, party president Bantu Holomisa said yesterday.
Among the queries was that of former UDM provincial secretary Wandile Tsipa, said to be placed at number 17 in an OR Tambo ANC list that circulated on Friday.
Tsipa last week told the Daily Dispatch that his name appearing on the ANC list was part of a political smear campaign meant to discredit him ahead of the provincial list conference.
Holomisa told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that there was no evidence that proved Tsipa had defected.
“Tsipa is still a member of the UDM. There is no evidence that he is a member of the ANC but the onus is on him to take it up with the ANC on why his name appears in the list said to be theirs.
“Tsipa is still a member and he is eligible for all positions but we will investigate the matter,” said Holomisa.
Tsipa declined to comment yesterday, saying only: “A complaint has been lodged with the national office so I cannot comment further.”
It is not uncommon for the candidate lists of parties to be dogged by allegations of factionalism or party processes not being properly followed.
A lot of importance is placed on the lists, as the higher a name appears the more realistic the chance that person has of securing a seat in council.
Holomisa said they had given the OR Tambo, Chris Hani and Amathole regions until April 14 to address the discrepancies.
He said there were also issues over how candidates at King Sabata Dalindyebo were chosen.
“They must clean up their lists and address those queries because we do not want people to leave the UDM and stand as independent candidates,” he said.
Should discrepancies still appear after the May 14 deadline, national bosses would step in to give direction, the former army general said. — ndamasem@dispatc.co.za
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