The gloves are off as the fight for political power in Buffalo City Metro begins in earnest with the possible return of controversial ANC strongman in the region, Pumlani Mkolo.
The Dr WB Rubusana ANC regional conference is set to take place before the end of next month.
The party’s auditors from Luthuli House are already in town to begin auditing branches today.
Internal lobbying is steaming ahead, with two of the ANC’s four zones in the region having officially pronounced that they want Mkolo to take over the reins.
Mkolo yesterday refused to comment, saying he was not going to discuss ANC internal matters with the media.
The remaining two zones, which are also meeting to pronounce their choices this weekend, are understood to be throwing their weight behind Mkolo, although not entirely so.
Some sections have come out to say incumbent, Xola Pakati, should continue. Pakati said he would respect the will and call of branches should they want him to continue in his current position.
Being an ANC chairman in DR WB Rubusana region puts someone in a pole position to become the Buffalo City Metro executive mayor, as was the case with Pakati.
This metro has an annual budget of more than R8-billion, and overseeing this budget is a highly-contested affair.
Mkolo and Pakati were in the same political WhatsApp group at the region’s previous conference that elected Mkolo as regional secretary and Pakati as chairman.
That was until Mkolo got suspended by the ANC integrity committee for his alleged involvement in the infamous Nelson Mandela Funeral funds scandal in which he is alleged to have played a central role.
However, Duncan Village and Mdantsane zones have resolved to throw their weight behind Mkolo to steer the regional ANC ship forward.
Duncan zonal secretary Siya Momeni said: “The ANC, now more than ever, needs people of comrade Mkolo's calibre who can appeal to young people who find EFF more attractive than the ANC which is mainly led by the old guard,” said Momeni.
Mdantsane zone is also backing him to contest for position of regional chairman.
Mdantsane zone secretary Melisizwe Tutu said the popular view in the zone was that Mkolo was ready to lead the ANC in the metro.
Asked what was the unpopular view, Tutu responded: “What I mean to say, is that out of 13 branches in our zone, 10 have come out to say comrade Mkolo must be the next regional chairman, while three say they want comrade Pakati to remain chairman.” Pakati said: “I believe I can still make a meaningful contribution given a chance by branches going forward.”
East London and King William's Town zones said they would meet tomorrow and only thereafter would they pronounce their preferred slate.
The ANC Youth League in the region said the regional executive committee was meeting today to discuss their stance, although it is known that individuals known to support Mkolo got elected to the young lion's leadership structure recently.
The ANC in Luthuli House could not clarify the confusion over Mkolo’s suspension by the integrity committee and whether or not he was allowed to contest positions.
However, when Mkolo was nominated for the ANC national executive committee in Nasrec he did not make the cut in the final 86. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za..