BRANCH VOTES IN DISPUTES WILL BE ‘QUARANTINED DURING ANC CONFERENCE

By Siyamthanda Capa

ANC branches still in dispute will take part in the ANC Eastern Cape elective conference but their votes will be “quarantined”.

ANC NEC member Aaron Motsoaledi said if the votes had the potential to swing the outcome of the conference then the national dispute resolution committee would make a decision on the disputes raised. 

He was speaking during a press conference at East London’s International Convention Centre.

Delegate disputes have been a sticking point ahead of the conference with issues raised in the Chris Hani and WB Rubusana regions.
Branches in the two regions picked up discrepancies with its members and the matter was raised with the party’s national office.

But Motsoaledi said the verification report had been signed off, meaning the conference could start.

“The issue around quarantine is not happening for the first time, it happens when there are disputes. The votes will be colour-coded and set aside”.

Motsoaledi said the party was trying to do everything by the book.
The Chris Hani region has 222 delegates and 152 in WB Rubusana.

At least 1,500 delegates will elect the party’s new provincial leadership at East London’s International Convention Centre (ICC).

The provincial conference will see Eastern Cape premier and ANC provincial task team (PTT) convener Oscar Mabuyane up against former ally Babalo Madikizela, who is also MEC for public works, and MPL Mlibo Qoboshiyane for the position of chair.

ANC Eastern Cape co-ordinator Lulama Ngcukayitobi said 40 branches in WB Rubusana would not be “quarantined”, along with 97 in Chris Hani.

Ngcukayitobi said 90% of delegates had been registered.

“The dispute resolution mechanisms are still active.”

Motsoaledi said several NEC members had been deployed to the province but would only be guests at the conference.