ANC regional list conferences hit by division claims

The long-awaited ANC regional list conferences have been marred by allegations of divisions as the party gears up for the local government elections. 

The Dr WB Rubusana (Buffalo City Metro) regional list conference, which was supposed to be convened yesterday, was abruptly postponed amid allegations of “fragmentation” made against party members.

The Dispatch has seen a text message from regional secretary Mkhawuleli Maleki to regional executive committee (REC) members and provincial executive committee deployees, stating the conference had be postponed due to administrative issues.

The conference will be convened today at the Alexander Golf Club.

However, senior ANC members who spoke to the Dispatch yesterday alleged the conference had to be postponed due to a “fallout” in the REC.

“There is a disagreement regarding who to put on the list. Comrades are divided and there are two factions that have different interests,” said one.

Maleki dismissed the allegations, saying that the party’s administration teams were attending to the Sarah Baartman region and the Dr WB Rubusana regional conference had to be shelved. “The regional list committee is responsible to oversee the process. This means that people that have interest cannot be seen as both referee and a player, so that the whole process is credible,” Maleki said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, another ANC member said that in the Alfred Nzo region disgruntled SACP members were still threatening to contest the local government elections as individual candidates.

“BCM, Alfred Nzo and Amathole districts were identified as hot-spot areas when it comes to divisions and infighting.

“Some SACP members in Alfred Nzo are not happy with the ANC councillors’ candidates lists and threatened to contest as independents,” said the member.

Early this year, ANC president Jacob Zuma convened a provincial alliance summit where it was resolved the provincial alliance secretariat must attend to the three identified regions.

Last week provincial SACP spokesman Siyabulela Mdodi said the party had received reports of manipulation of the councillor candidate-selection process and corruption in local government. “The challenges in Alfred Nzo district, in particular in the area of Mbizana where there is a persistent anti-communist agenda and corrupt activities, must be resolved,” he said.

Attempts to get comment from ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane were not successful yesterday.

Meanwhile, OR Tambo mayor Nomakhosazana Meth heads the party’s proportional representation (PR) councillors’ list for the OR Tambo district.

The Dispatch has seen the regional list even though it has not been made public, as it still has to go through a consolidation phase. While Meth heads the district list, two other women are also topping candidate lists in their municipalities. Margaret Mvanyashe heads the list in the Mhlontlo subregion, while current mayor Mandisa Giyose has been moved to the district where she is number nine on the list.

In Port St Johns, Bulelwa Makhanda tops the list, followed by council speaker Thandisizwe Khukhula.

ANC regional deputy secretary Mesuli Ngqondwana tops the list in Nyandeni subregion and could become the youngest mayor in the district.

He would fill the shoes of mayor Thokozile Sokhanyile, who has been moved to the district – she is currently number three on the district list, giving her a good chance of becoming council speaker, according to some regional leaders.

The King Sabata Dalindyebo subregional list is headed by council speaker Dumani Zozo.

The mayor, Nonkoliso Ngqongwa, has also been moved to the district and she is number seven on the list.

Ngquza Hill municipality mayor Pat Mdingi remained at the top in that subregion and stands a good chance of retaining his position as mayor.

Some popular names who did not make it to the lists included Port St Johns mayor Phikolomzi Langa, deputy mayor Thandekile Sabisa and mayoral committee member Lawrence Mambila.

OR Tambo regional secretary Lulama Ngcukayithobi said the lists were not final, and “any aggrieved parties...will be able to lodge their objections with the provincial list committee and the national list committee”.