Court dismisses attempt to interdict ANC Gauteng elective conference

The South Gauteng High Court has dismissed an application to interdict the ANC Gauteng elective conference, saying the interdict was not urgent.

The applicants further wanted Ekurhuleni, the region with the largest delegation of 311, to be stopped from attending the conference, eNCA reports.

The conference is scheduled to take place at the weekend at the at George Hotel in Irene, Tshwane.

The Citizen reported this week that the Gauteng ANC was ready to defend any court challenges lodged by regional members unhappy with the outcomes and procedures of the recent elective regional conferences.

Acting provincial chairperson David Makhura said he was confident the ANC would win against the challenges emanating from members in the Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng regions, who took the party to court alleging flouting of procedures in elective conferences in the two regions last week.

ANC provincial secretary Hope Papo said those who took the ANC to court would have to pay full legal costs, should they lose their applications, failing which the organisation would attach their property.

“We are confident courts will find in our favour as all procedures were scrupulously followed and disputes were heard and adjudicated properly and fairly by the PEC and the national executive committee,” Papo said.

Ekurhuleni members have already lost a bid to have the conference interdicted or its outcomes nullified, but were taking the matter on review. Divisions were not only surfacing in Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng, but also in the West Rand.

According to Ekurhuleni ANC regional spokesperson Sonnyboy Masingi, some members had failed to get the High Court in Johannesburg to interdict the conference after they disputed the pre-conference processes, credentials and electoral outcomes.

In Sedibeng, regional secretary Jason Mkhwane said four branches applied to the court on July 12 to have the regional conference’s outcome nullified. Mkhwane said Luthuli House, Gauteng ANC and the former Sedibeng regional task team were handling this.

Makhura is leading the nominations and is likely to be elected unopposed, as all the five regions put him top of their lists.

But four of the top five executive positions were being fiercely contested and different camps will field their candidates at the provincial conference on July 20 to 22.

– Additional reporting by Eric Naki

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