Fresh call to act against KZN ANC leaders

Supporters of KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu march down Durban's Pixley Ka Seme (West) Street en route to the the ANC's provincial headquarters. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

Supporters of KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu march down Durban's Pixley Ka Seme (West) Street en route to the the ANC's provincial headquarters. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

Published Dec 1, 2015

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Durban - Disgruntled ANC members in KwaZulu-Natal have given secretary-general Gwede Mantashe until this Friday to attend to their fresh calls for the dissolution of the provincial leadership, among other things.

“If there is no response by this Friday, we are to march to the Luthuli House next Friday,” one of the march organisers, Sthenjwa Nyawose, said on Monday.

Nyawose made the threat during a second march to the provincial headquarters in Durban.

Protesters first marched on the headquarters after the provincial conference earlier last month elected Sihle Zikalala as ANC chairman in KZN at the expense of Senzo Mchunu.

At Monday’s march, the disgruntled members reiterated their call for the dissolution of the new provincial executive committee, saying it should not carry out its functions until their complaints had been attended to.

They also demand that no regional general councils be held in the Harry Gwala (Kokstad) and Musa Dladla (Richards Bay) regions to fill vacancies, and that the eThekwini regional conference should not be convened by the newly-elected leadership.

The march was held as Mantashe addressed a media briefing at the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg, where he read out a national executive committee (NEC) statement that congratulating the new provincial leadership.

“The NEC further noted the unfortunate and developing tendency of appeals that arise based on the outcome of conferences,” Mantashe said in a statement.

But Nyawose said despite their complaints, the provincial leaders continued to take decisions that divided the organisation.

He felt that Luthuli House did not tell the “irregularly” elected provincial executive committee (PEC) not to take decisions.

In a memorandum read out while provincial secretary Super Zuma and his deputy, Mluleki Ndobe, watched, Nyawose alleged there was a plan to discipline those who challenged the conference outcomes. “Listen here, comrades, there is no one to be suspended or expelled. Where do they take powers to discipline us? We do not recognise them,” he said.

Nyawose claimed there was a plan to purge those who backed Mchunu, such as mayors, councillors and MECs, and also also claimed there were plans to dissolve regions aligned to the premier.

Nyawose also detailed how disgruntled members would intensify their struggle, which included disrupting meetings convened by the new leadership, holding sit-ins at party offices, mass mobilisation against the new PEC and running their own nomination of candidate councillors.

Despite what appeared to be their fear of purging and disciplining, Nyawose said Mantashe had informed him that a task team would be formed to probe the conference.

“We are not happy that they appoint a task team while these continue to be in office. Let there be #JusticeForAllIn TheANC.”

Last night, Mantashe told the Daily News that apart from the KZN appeals, there were also complaints from three regions in the Eastern Cape.

“All will be listened to, and that will be dealt with by a committee,” he said.

Mantashe would not be drawn into commenting on threats by the disgruntled members.

The KZN leadership took a dim view about the actions of the disgruntled members.

“If they were honest, they would have waited for a response. All of us are waiting for response,” Zuma said.

However, Ndobe described the action by the disgruntled members as not only anti-ANC, but also contrary to the party’s culture and traditions.

He said the party would not allow anarchy within its ranks.

“If there is transgression by any member or a leader, disciplinary action will be taken,” Ndobe said.

Zuma said they would continue to do their work until the national leadership directed otherwise.

“We have not dealt with reshuffling. We have not dealt with the issue of mayors based on outcome of the conference,” Zuma said.

Daily News

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