Cape Town - The ANC in the Western Cape has stepped in to quell rumours that the national leadership is on the brink of disbanding the provincial leadership.
The Provincial Working Committee (PWC) of the ANC met this week, ahead of this weekend’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), to discuss, among others, the state of ANC branches in all six regions and the outcomes of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
“The PWC noted with concern the rumours going around about the NEC with regards to the PEC and would like to condemn and discourage such behaviour, particularly when it comes from members of the organisation who are supposed to be standard bearers of organisational values,” ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs said.
ANC members took to social media suggesting the PEC’s days were numbered and that they “see a PTT (provincial task team) in the distant horizon”.
ANC members have been warned against waging factional battles on social media, but calls by their leadership have fallen on deaf ears.
Several ANC members said as long as there was no ANC social media policy, they would continue to post whatever they wanted.
Jacobs said they were calling on members to desist from posting statements that would further sow division and bring the organisation into disrepute.
He said members should have abided by the party’s constitution and ensured organisational discipline and unity.
Following the PWC meeting, Jacobs said they were particularly encouraged by decisions taken by the NEC about the lifestyle audits on senior leaders and public servants and the urgent need to deal with factionalism, disunity and corruption, which had plagued the organisation.
Party secretary-general Gwede Mantashe dropped the bomb after the weekend’s NEC meeting, saying “self-serving and careerist politicians” should be discouraged from party ranks and those who used the ANC for selfish gain should be acted against.
Jacobs said the province supported lifestyle audits which would ensure the party’s ranks were free of corruption.
“We also support the notion that the ANC should not just listen and speak to itself but instead encourage and invite critical feedback from communities and all constituencies especially those that did not vote for us,” he said.
But it was Mantashe’s statement that councillors who were illegally nominated during the party’s nomination processes should resign that amused ANC members the most on social media.
Facebook posts included jokes about Mantashe explaining councillors should not be fired, but should volunteer information that he/she doesn’t belong there; “not in a million years, it aint gonna happen”; “they will never leave willing”; “ that will be the day”; “they will have to pack and go”.
Other supporters named the branches that will be affected while some suggested that in some areas all ANC councillors will have to resign.
Jacobs stressed the list process created further divisions in the ANC and the provincial leadership supported the notion of rectifying mistakes made during the nomination processes.
“We welcome the appointment of task teams to work with the province. We will use the process to forge greater unity within our ranks,” he said.
Cape Argus