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Attempts by the ANC to hold its eThekwini regional elective conference have again ended in disarray after disruptions by supporters of Zandile Gumede forced a postponement.
Proceedings were halted for several hours after delegates backing Gumede, a contender for chairperson, brought an introductory address by provincial chairperson and Premier Senzo Mchunu to a halt by drowning him out with songs protesting the exclusion of branch delegates from the faction.
There was a massive police presence and a large contingent of ANC security members at the conference venue, Greyville Racecourse, in Durban.
As the delegates continued to defy attempts by deputy provincial chairperson Willies Mchunu and secretary Sihle Zikalala to bring them to order, the media was removed from the open session while embarrassed ANC leaders tried to bring the situation under control.
Gumede’s supporters arrived with her about three hours after the scheduled 9am starting time.
After several hours of tense negotiations with the provincial task team appointed to assist in running the conference, Gumede’s supporters took the leadership to task for excluding delegates from the Ward 39 branch.
Gumede sat stony-faced as her supporters, who let loose after Mchunu described the chaos in the region as “man made, or woman made”, sang songs demanding the reinstatement of the delegates and others asking what they had done to Mchunu.
Heated discussions continued until Zikalala agreed to stand the conference down until the branch’s delegates, who were not at the conference, could be fetched and registered. The conference was adjourned for lunch while the negotiations continued.
The postponement of the conference is seen as another short-term victory for the Gumede faction as it did not have the numbers to win.
The Nxumalo camp felt the issues raised by the protesters were a stalling tactic.
There were tensions at the gate as the opposing delegates left, booing and insulting each other.
The fierce eThekwini leadership race has seen the conference postponed thrice because of clashes between Gumede’s faction and supporters of her rival, Durban mayor and SACP provincial chairperson James Nxumalo.
The result of a third conference earlier this year, at which Nxumalo was elected chairperson in a clean sweep, was nullified by Luthuli House after branches loyal to Gumede complained that branches that had not qualified to participate were allowed to do so.
More than control of the city’s R35 billion budget – the regional chair is likely to stand as mayor next year – is at stake in the battle between the two and their backers in the ANC and the business world.
ANC insiders said a win for Nxumalo would boost a bid for a second term – or a national move – by Mchunu, who is also seen to be aligned to a post-Zuma leadership package that involves Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and secretary-general Gwede Mantashe
