The ANC in Calata House has published a list of names its branches want included in the ruling party’s candidates list for the Bhisho legislature next year.
The 148 names will be the subject of discussion when delegates attend the party’s provincial list conference in East London next weekend.
The meeting was initially scheduled for Sunday and Monday, however, ANC provincial spokesperson Gift Ngqondi, said the extension would allow more branches to wrap up outstanding branch general meetings (BGMs) so that the conference can be as inclusive as possible.
A closer look at the three-page document published on Thursday night, suggests the party is doing the best it can to introduce more young faces to the Bhisho legislature to drive discussions come 2019.
The list, which is crafted in alphabetical order, includes the likes of National Youth Development Agency provincial leader Princess Faku, former and current ANC Youth League leaders such as Butsha Lali, OR Tambo’s Ndumiso Sapepa, Momelezi Mbedla and Nelson Mandela’s Sicelo Leve as well as Mziwonke Ndabeni.
The South African Young Communist League, the SACP’s youth wing, is also represented on the list with its secretary general Mluleki Dlelanga, as well as Mawethu Rune and Lazola Ndamase named.
Ngqondi said: “I can confirm that these are provincial lists given to all structures. This includes branches”.
He said the lists published so far are for province to province (MPLs) as well as province to national (national council of provinces).
The national to national list has not been consolidated yet, he said, referring to the national assembly representatives.
The list committees are appointed by the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) and PEC at different levels and are responsible for the administration and implementation of the list guidelines, which include a good mix of youth and age, as well as people with disabilities.
ANC branches are supposed to nominate a maximum of 50 names for the national list, and a maximum of 30 names for the province to national and provincial legislature lists, according to the guidelines.
The nomination lists are also required to include 50% women and at least 60% or more sitting MPs/MPLs.
“Expertise and specialist skills must also be factored in when considering nominations,” states the party in its own list documents, titled “ANC candidate selection process 2019 elections”.
The criteria for candidates – who must all be members in good standing with a proven track record of commitment and involvement in the party, also include:
lNo criminal record (this excludes political-related crimes committed before April 1994);
lNo history of ill-discipline or corruption; and
lNo history of involvement in fostering divisions and conflict.
The Eastern Cape ANC list is not without controversy as branches have included those still facing criminal charges for their alleged involvement in the swindling of R5.9m earmarked for former statesman Nelson Mandela’s memorial services when he died back in December 2013.
Both Sindiswa Gomba and Temba Tinta werenominated by at least five branches to represent the party at the Bhisho legislature come 2019.
The party has indicated that the national list conference may remove the name of a candidate, if compelling reasons are presented. The party stated that it would remove a candidate from the list if the list committee was not aware that the integrity committee or its disciplinary committee had ruled against the conduct of a comrade or that a comrade is under investigation for a serious crime.
“This is a consolidation of nominations from branch general meetings. Remember the extension was given by the secretary general’s office to November 29 for BGMs to be included.
“This provisional list could change after inclusion of outstanding BGMs as per the extension of deadlines,” said Ngqondi...