The African National Congress (ANC) Eastern Cape leadership has confirmed that it will escalate its conference impasse to the party’s national leadership, Luthuli House, by Monday. This decision comes after the conference was put in abeyance on Friday and postponed on Saturday amid legal disputes.
ANC Eastern Cape chairperson Oscar Mabuyane addressed a cadres forum on Saturday, briefing delegates on the developments. He assured them that the conference would take place by the end of April, despite the current challenges. Mabuyane’s comments suggest that the Eastern Cape is likely to seek an extension to convene the conference beyond the set deadline of 31 March.
Background to the Impasse
The conference was postponed due to a court interdict granted to ANC members who argued that the branches had been manipulated. This has led to a stalemate, with the provincial leadership unable to officially convene branch delegates. Mabuyane and the rest of the provincial leadership are now seeking the intervention of the national leadership to resolve the matter.
According to Mabuyane, the aim of the meeting with Luthuli House bosses is to present all the facts and find a collective solution. He stated, ‘We are going to the national leadership, we have spoken to the national leadership, and they are also keen because they want us to find a collective solution on this matter.’
Consequences of the Delay
The delay in convening the conference has significant implications for the ANC in the Eastern Cape. The PEC’s term of office comes to an end in May, and the conference is a constitutional requirement. Mmamoloko Kubayi, the convenor of national executive committee (NEC) deployees to the Eastern Cape conference, emphasized that the conference will have to happen, regardless of the challenges.
Kubayi said, ‘We assure you, no matter what happens, the conference will have to happen; it is a constitutional requirement. From here onwards, this matter will be dealt with by the national executive committee. We, as the deployees, will compile a report.’ The report will be crucial in providing national officials with a clear understanding of what happened with the Eastern Cape conference.
Some of the key issues that need to be addressed include:
- Resolving the legal disputes and branch manipulation allegations
- Ensuring the conference is convened in a fair and transparent manner
- Addressing the leadership challenges and divisions within the provincial leadership
The ANC Eastern Cape conference impasse has significant implications for the party’s national leadership and the upcoming elections. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the national leadership will intervene and resolve the matter.
