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The race for the presidency of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) is hotting up, with at least two members of the executive committee in the running to replace outgoing leader Lawrence Mavundla.
This despite the organisation facing a possible interdict by a sidelined faction, which previously lost a lengthy leadership court battle.
Nafcoc’s deputy president, Churchill Mrasi, and secretary-general, Monga Phaladi, both confirmed that they would be contesting for the presidency seat when the organisation holds its elective conference in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, over two days this week.
Also in the presidential race will be a former CEO of the organisation, Sabelo Macingwane.
The Nafcoc Youth Chamber has nominated Tshepo Matsaba from the Free State province as its secretary-general of choice to replace Phaladi.
The chamber’s president, Chuma Shweni, confirmed that the youth wing wanted Matsaba to run for secretary-general, Macingwane for president and Daniel Kotze for the post of deputy president.
City Press could not confirm this with Kotze, but Matsaba and Macingwane confirmed their nominations.
Also eyeing the secretary seat is Poppy Bereng, Nafcoc’s secretary in the Free State, who confirmed that she would be contesting.
Under Mavundla, the organisation has been through a turbulent decade.
Earlier this month, Sam Motsuenyane, a Nafcoc stalwart and a former president of the organisation, penned a letter to ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe, requesting intervention ahead of the conference.
In the letter, Motsuenyane also requested that Mantashe meet with the stalwarts working committee.
Mantashe’s office could not confirm if the meeting was on the cards.
Motsuenyane’s letter to the ANC comes after efforts by the sidelined faction of the organisation to interdict the conference.
Members of the faction wrote letters to some of the dignitaries scheduled to address the conference, including mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, urging them to reconsider attending.
Duma Makanda, one of the leaders of the sidelined faction and a former Nafcoc chairperson, confirmed to City Press that he also wrote to Mavundla, requesting that the conference not hold elections, given that his faction was not invited.
“I reminded him that the Constitutional Court judgment that ruled in his favour also said he must unite both factions. Since we have not been invited to the annual general meeting where there will be elections, he would be failing at this,” said Makanda.
Makanda did not rule out talk of his faction interdicting the conference should Mavundla not respond timeously.
City Press has established from at least two independent sources that the stalwarts also held a discussion with Motsepe, a former president of Nafcoc, about the conference.
Motsepe, through a spokesperson, opted not to comment on the matter and would not confirm whether he would attend the conference – his name is included on the draft programme seen by City Press.
On Friday, members of the outgoing executive led by Mavundla, along with the stalwarts working committee met with Motsuenyane.
According to committee member Gab Mokgoko, the parties agreed that although it was too late to halt the conference, the newly elected leaders would work together with the stalwarts to unite the organisation, including the sidelined faction.
Mavundla declined to comment, saying he did not comment in the media about Nafcoc matters.
