Less than three weeks before its highly contested regional elective conference, the executive of the African National Congress (ANC) in Peter Mokaba Region has been converted to a task team following the lapsing of its mandate.
The Peter Mokaba Regional Task Team (RTT) consists of Dewet Monakedi as Convenor, John Mpe as Deputy Convenor, Eugene Masete as Coordinator, Sammy Selamolela as Deputy Coordinator and Nakedi Sibanda as Treasurer.
According to information 17 disputes stemming from Branch General Meeting (BGM) processes in the run-up to both the regional and the provincial elective conferences had been lodged by Tuesday. From within party ranks concern was expressed that disputes arising from BGM processes could lead to members turning to the courts.
When approached for confirmation of the appointment of the Peter Mokaba RTT, Peter Mokaba Regional Task Team Coordinator Eugene Masete said the dispute resolution committee at regional level had adjudicated on six disputes, lodged at branch level and with the Provincial Secretary, last Thursday and since he has received another one. It could be possible that more disputes could have been lodged in the meantime, he admitted.
He indicated that he wouldn’t venture into discussing the issue of the RTT appointment, only saying that it had followed a decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) taken on 31 May which was effected on Friday.
He said they have been tasked with ensuring that the region continued with preparations for the regional elective conference and that they were heading for their conference at the end of the month as planned. Branches had until Sunday for their BGMs in preparation for both the provincial and regional elective conferences, he explained. The provincial elective conference is supposed to be held next weekend.
After Friday’s RGC a statement issued by Howard Masoga on behalf of the ANC Youth League (Ancyl) in the region slammed leaders on the podium for their so-called “Mugabefication” tendencies by not allowing delegates to air their views during the proceedings. He indicated that when delegates wanted to enquire about processes to be followed, they had been suppressed before the meeting was abruptly closed.
Masoga pointed out that the legitimacy of the PEC of the ANC had been questioned due to the fact that its own mandate has lapsed on 14 February this year, while that of the REC expired on 19 October last year.
After Friday the ANC’s Secretary General (SG) and a deployee of the NEC have been approached to intervene in the affairs of the region to secure the legitimacy of BGM processes, it was learnt.
According to Masoga they have discussed the issues with five NEC deployees at Frans Mohlala House on Tuesday and were awaiting the outcome of the discussion of the matters that would have been taken forward to the NEC. He said they appreciated the fact that the deployees came to Limpopo to listen to them.
Masoga stressed that the NEC should intervene as they didn’t want a repeat of what happened with conferences of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and North West.
Story: YOLANDE NEL
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