Durban – About 2 000 people marched on the African National Congress provincial headquarters in Durban on Monday as unhappiness around the results of the recent provincial conference continue to swirl.
There was a heavy police presence outside the building in Stalwart Simelane Street.
“We are protesting about the ANC provincial conference that was rigged,” said one supporter.
Supporters of KwaZulu-Natal premier Senzo Mchunu have expressed dissatisfaction at the provincial conference which took place at the beginning of the month that saw Mchunu ousted as ANC provincial chairman. Provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala was elected provincial chairman ahead of Mchunu.
Speakers who attempted to pacify the singing crowd were jeered at.
The provincial ANC had earlier on Monday issued a statement in which it “rejected in the strongest terms the allegations that the party’s 2015 elective provincial conference could have been manipulated by intervention of any of the participants in the nomination of candidates, voting or vote counting”.
The party said the conference had been one of the most transparent elective political party conferences ever in South Africa, citing a number of reasons.
“Firstly, the proceedings were monitored by more than 30 senior national NEC members comprising Deputy Secretary-General Cde Jessie Duarte and Treasurer-General Cde Zweli Mkhize,” the ANC in KZN said. “These members oversaw the proceedings of the conference and ensured that everything was beyond reproach.
“Secondly, the voting process was preceded by a head count where the NEC, PEC and Regional Leaders of the ANC verified each and every voting delegate at the conference.
“Thirdly, the conference was televised and all nominations thus unfolded in full view of the general public. And fourthly, the voting and vote counting were done manually, not electronically, and every step of the way was open to full scrutiny to observers from the national monitoring team mentioned above and all ANC regions had comrades observing the voting and counting processes.”
It added: “As such, any possibility of manipulation of the election outcome could only be a figment of imagination. Any suggestions about rigging are mischievous and libellous. The ANC has gone into great lengths to ensure transparency of the voting process and the integrity of the results.”
It is understandable that some participants might be aggrieved by the results but that is a feature of democracy. The KZN ANC urges unity amongst all its cadres and pledges to maintain the level of internal democracy for which the organisation is widely known in the country.
Provincial secretary Super Zuma said it was understandable that some participants may be aggrieved by the results but that said that was a feature of democracy.
“The KZN ANC urges unity amongst all its cadres and pledges to maintain the level of internal democracy for which the organisation is widely known in the country.”
African News Agency
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