Cape Town – Sunday's abandoned ANC provincial policy conference has again exposed the divisions in the Western Cape as backers of Cyril Ramaphosa and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma battle it out to tilt the scales.
The ANC’s provincial executive had been vocal in their call for President Jacob Zuma to be investigated by the party’s integrity committee following his last cabinet reshuffle at the end of March which they said was done without consultation.
On Sunday, an attempt to hold a provincial policy conference came to naught, as supporters of Dlamini Zuma complained over the credentials of branch delegates.
An ANC insider said there had been a deliberate attempt by the Dullah Omar (Cape Town metro) regional executive to disrupt provincial party meetings.
“Two weeks ago, a notice was sent out to branches about the policy conference, along with the breakdown of delegates (to be sent).”
This was after Dullah Omar regional secretary Vuyiso “JJ” Tyhalisisu had “ignored” a letter from ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs that branch general meetings had to be concluded by June 4.
When Jacobs got wind that most of the branches in the Dullah Omar region had not been informed that they would have to hold general meetings, the deadline was moved to June 11.
Instead it is claimed that Tyhalisisu only sent the notice to branches on June 15 – two days before the policy conference.
Tyhalisisu said he would not respond to the allegations, adding these had not been brought up by the ANC provincial executive.
“All the things in dispute will be raised within the provincial executive committee,” said Tyhalisisu.
Supporters of Dlamini Zuma in the Cape Town metro are also believed to be lobbying for the inclusion of Deputy Communications Minister Thandi Mahambehlala, former ANC provincial secretary Songezo Mjongile, ANC veteran Tony Yengeni and ANC MPL Nomi Nkondlo on to the national executive committee.
Jacobs said he would not comment on the party’s internal issues through the media; instead, he said its delegates would be prepared for next week’s policy conference.
The ANC in the Western Cape will send 155 delegates to the policy conference in Nasrec in Joburg.
ANC Dullah Omar regional spokesperson Khaya Yozi said his branch would push for land, radical economic transformation and free education.