Cape Town - The Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement is weighing up its options as it considers breaking ties with the ANC over the party’s apparent failure to incorporate the movement’s members as candidates for the upcoming local government election.
There are also rumours that Ses’khona’s secretary-general, Loyiso Nkohla, has been in secret talks with the DA.
This was confirmed by ANC acting provincial chairman Khaya Magaxa.
He said the party had been informed on Tuesday night that Ses’khona leaders were planning to join the DA.
However, Ses’khona declined to comment until its members had met behind closed doors on Wednesday, where leaders and co-ordinators were called to an urgent gathering to discuss whether or not the movement would support the ANC in the August poll.
“We will make a decision today (on Thursday) and will be holding a press conference tomorrow (on Friday).
“We cannot say anything more at this stage,” Nkohla said.
Senior ANC members in the region claimed Nkohla was using the legitimate concerns raised by branches about the candidate lists to his advantage.
“The lists processes in the metro were chaotic and Ses’khona members were not being accommodated in the region,” one ANC member said.
Others said promises that were made by the national structures that the youth, Muslim and Ses’khona members would be included in the lists, had been broken.
“Ses’khona did not get any of these seats and it is no secret that Nkohla has been in meetings with the ANC’s national leadership over unhappiness with the lists,” they said.
ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs said the party would respond formally once it had been informed of Ses’khona’s decision.
He said several complaints were lodged over the candidate lists and ANC members felt aggrieved by the process.
“We are all dealing with the consequences of those who did not make the list and still feel unhappy. We note the unhappiness and the provincial working committee has met and agreed to discuss and explain the list processes to branches.”
Andile Lili, who serves in the ANC’s provincial leadership and is one of the ward candidates for the ANC, could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
DA deputy leader in the province, Bonginkosi Madikizela said: “I am talking to a number of people. It is the elections and I am campaigning. When the time is right we will reveal the names of prominent members who are joining us from the ANC.”
Cape Argus