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ANC has only one centre of power in Eastern Cape – Mabuyane

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ANC national spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa and ANC Eastern Cape chairman, Oscar Mabuyane at the Grahamstown High Court. Picture: Lubaba Ngcukana/ City Press
ANC national spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa and ANC Eastern Cape chairman, Oscar Mabuyane at the Grahamstown High Court. Picture: Lubaba Ngcukana/ City Press

Oscar Mabuyane says he is comfortable with being chairperson of the ANC in the Eastern Cape because he did not accept the position in order to be a premier – reaffirming that those in government should always respect the ANC as the only centre of power.

Mabuyane, who was elected chair at a provincial conference marred by disruptions and violence, made the comments in Grahamstown after attending an appeal by disgruntled members.

These members want the conference that elected him and his executive declared unconstitutional and its decisions null and void.

Speaking outside the Grahamstown High Court, and responding to calls by the ANC Youth League in the province for him to take up his “rightful place” as premier and replace incumbent premier, Phumulo Masualle – whom he contested at the controversial conference – Mabuyane said he loved the ANC so much he did not mind staying on as full-time chairperson instead.

It’s common practice in most provinces that provincial ANC chairpersons are also premiers in a bid to avoid what is known as two centres of power in ANC circles.

ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayithobi chats to advocate, Thembeka Ngcukayithobi at the Grahamstown High Court. PHOTO: Lubabalo Ngcukana/ City Press

“When we go to conferences of the ANC we don’t elect people for purposes of deploying them in government. The process of ANC deployment into any strategic positions of power is an internal ANC process.

“And I for one, was not accepting the responsibility of leading the ANC in the province for the purposes of becoming a premier.

"I am comfortable ... even if the ANC can pay me to be full-time chairperson I would be doing it. It would be unprecedented. I would love it.

"I like the ANC and love the people of this province. I am working for them. I don’t necessarily need to work for them when I am in government,” Mabuyane said.

He said everything was fine between him and Premier Masualle and that they still maintained some level of communication.

Mabuyane said as long as people respected the ANC as the only centre of power there was no problem.

“People are voting for the ANC, not for any individual or government.

"When the ANC wins elections, it gets into government and it forms government because people are responding to its manifesto, not to how good I look.

"It’s not about individuals. It’s about the ANC and the future of this country. We must not get confused.

"There is one centre of power and we are consistent on that,” Mabuyane said.

On Sunday, during an ANC rally at the Bhisho Stadium, provincial ANC Youth League task team convener Mziwonke Ndabeni called on Mabuyane to take his rightful place as premier.

In an apparent swipe at Masualle, who did not acknowledge Mabuyane at the OR Tambo centenary celebrations in Mbizana last month, which was a government event, Ndabeni said this could not be allowed to continue.

“We cannot have a provincial ANC chairperson who is outside government. Where those who lead government in the province use the same government to frustrate the leadership of the province.

"We are not going to allow that. Branches of the ANC have spoken unequivocally that comrade Mabuyane must lead,” said Ndabeni.

Meanwhile, Mabuyane said it was disappointing that there seemed to be two parallel processes on the issue of the disputed provincial conference.

He said the case was in two courts simultaneously.

There was an internal process of the ANC that started in the Calata House provincial ANC headquarters, led by former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sbu Ndebele, and also the one at the Grahamstown High Court.

In the matter in the Grahamstown High Court the ANC was represented by renowned legal guru Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, who was up against the respected senior counsel, Advocate Phillip Zilwa. The case was postponed until December 4.

Mabuyane said he hoped by the time the court sat again the process led by national executive member Ndebele would have concluded investigating and made a determination.

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