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ANC vs ANC: ‘Rebel group’ certain of victory

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KwaZulu-Natal ANC chairman Senzo Mchunu. Picture: Tebogo Letsie
KwaZulu-Natal ANC chairman Senzo Mchunu. Picture: Tebogo Letsie

The rebel group who dragged the KwaZulu-Natal ANC’s provincial executive committee to court to challenge their legitimacy is certain of victory even as they await the court judgment.

Addressing supporters who had gathered outside the high court in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, eThekweni branch secretary, Thabang Nyawose, said that the case was about reaffirming the rights of members of the ANC.

“This is not about an individual; this matter is for ANC branches in KwaZulu Natal whose rights were violated ahead of that conference,” Nyawose said.

This was in reference to a provincial conference which took place in November 2015.

The conference saw former ANC chairperson Senzo Mchunu being ousted in favour of current chairperson Sihle Zikalala.

Nyawose said that the case had nothing to do with Mchunu being bitter at the loss but was about getting the ANC to do the right thing.

He called for unity in the ANC even after the case, saying that the courts could not forge unity in the party – that task was for the branches.

Judgment in the matter was reserved on day two of the proceedings.

Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, who is representing the so-called rebel group, told the court today that the conference was “shambolic”.

He argued that the ANC had deliberately shut the door on the concerns of his clients who had exhausted every avenue within the party to express their concerns.

Ngcukaitobi argued that the conference was rushed, prejudicing some branches who did not have enough time to get their houses in order. He quoted extensively from a report by NEC member Joe Phaahla which outlined that the province was not in a complete state of readiness for the conference.

He also said that NEC member Lindiwe Sisulu had told her comrades in the structure that she felt that there would not be enough time to prepare properly for the conference, but still the party forged ahead.

However senior counsel Greg Harpur said that the applicants had made an embarrassing case for themselves and had come to court relying on his clients to make a case for them.

Harpur also dismissed a tweet which has been a bone off contention since the conference, calling it “fake”.

The tweet was posted at around 10pm while voting was still taking place. It correctly “predicted” the share of the vote which Mchunu received at the conference. However Harpur said that the source of the tweet was unknown and it was “mischevious”.

Senior counsel Griffiths Madonsela, who was also representing the rebel group, cited other alleged irregularities at the conference itself.

He said that NEC members had been made aware of delegates who had found more than one tag with their names on them which allowed them to vote. Despite this red flag, the conference continued.

Both sides are hoping for a judgment in the next two weeks as the ANC’s branch general meetings will start to sit in September ahead of it’s national elective conference. President Jacob Zuma’s successor will be elected at that conference along with other officials and the NEC.

A win in this case will be significant for either side who have nailed their colours to the mast with veiled endorsements of their preferred candidates.

A win for the rebel group will give new life to the campaign of deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa. Mchunu, who has publicly endorsed the deputy president, has been touted for position of secretary general on that slate.

Meanwhile the current PEC is rumoured to support former African Union chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma who enjoys support from the incumbent president.

With time running out ahead of the conference, the winning side will be able to consolidate much needed support in the province which brings to conference the biggest delegation. Historically KZN has been a kingmaker at the conference, bringing with it a united front. This time however it is bitterly divided along supporters of Zikalala and Mchunu.

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