File picture. President Jacob Zuma and new president of the ANC Cyril Ramaphosa during the announcement of new party leadership at the 5th African National Congress (ANC) national conference at the Nasrec Expo Centre on December 18, 2017 in Soweto, South Africa. Picture: Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius
It was déjà vu as Luthuli House spin machinery went faulty again on journalists in Cape Town this morning, and consequently speculation gained traction that an emergency NEC meeting has been called for tomorrow.
When the national leaders failed to arrive at scheduled walk-about and community mobilisation events this morning, Western Cape ANC leaders told journalists they have flown back to Johannesburg.
In a media statement a short-while ago, spokesperson Pule Mabe said “the ANC can confirm that the national officials will not be part of the planned build up for the rally on Sunday” due to other commitments.
He promised to update the media during the course of the weekend on any developments on the matter.
Several media houses are reporting that the non-participation of the leaders came as a result of an urgent Top Six meeting to be followed by another special NEC meeting in Johannesburg tomorrow.
READ MORE: Emergency meeting allegedly called tomorrow, ‘Ramaphosa in talks with Zuma’
Mabe said the the national celebratory rally planned for Sunday will proceed as planned and “and shall be addressed by the President of the ANC, Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, at 15:00.”
If this plan is meticulously executed and Ramaphosa arrives in Cape Town as scheduled on Sunday, this will entail that the NEC meeting would have concluded, or if still in session he would have delegated his powers within the organisation to his deputy David Mabuza.
The haste with which the decision to recall the leaders back to Johannesburg appears to have taken Western Cape PEC, the hosts of this weekend’s celebrations, by surprise. Shortly after 7pm last night, Luthuli House communications marshalls sent a confirmation of this morning’s programme to the media.
David Mabuza was scheduled, between 06:30 to 08:30 am, to be at a “Blitz and Walkabout at Nolungile train station and Site C taxi rank”, Jessie Duarte had a “Blitz and walkabout at the Nyanga Taxi Rank”, while Paul Mashatile ‘s Blitz and walkabout was planned at Belville Taxi Rank
Secretary general Ace Magashule’s non-appearance at Phillipi Train Station between 06:30 and 08:30 am did not deter protesters who were waiting for him holding placards written “where are the Vrede millions”?
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/anc-top-six-cancels-public-engagements/
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