Lungisa steps down as Nelson Mandela Bay chair with immediate effect

The ANC’s regional chairperson in Nelson Mandela Bay, Andile Lungisa, on Monday stepped down from his position with immediate effect.

Lungisa’s resignation follows a wrangle earlier this month between him and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe over his election to a lower party structure while also serving on the provincial executive committee (PEC) in the Eastern Cape.

Provincial party leaders also called on Lungisa quit after issuing an ultimatum for him to resign last week or face disciplinary action. However, he remained defiant that only the ANC’s highest decision-making body, the national executive committee (NEC), which met at the weekend, could remove him from his post.

Lungisa announced he would be running for the position of ANC provincial secretary at the party’s conference in July. His deputy, Phumzile Tshumi, will act in the position of ANC regional chairperson in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The governing party’s top six leaders reportedly decided that Lungisa should also be removed as the newly elected regional chair of the metro because his election was in breach of the party’s constitution.

This was despite President Jacob Zuma backing him after his election at the ANC’s regional conference in Port Elizabeth.

According to a Business Day report on Monday, the NEC discussed Lungisa’s election with some members of the body, including former ANC Youth League treasurer Pule Mabe, defending him during the meeting but they were defeated.

The ANC’s Eastern Cape secretary, Oscar Mabuyane, is understood to be vying for the position of provincial chairperson, a position currently held by Premier Phumulo Masualle.

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