ANC eThekwini Region and Others to Host Elective Conferences Before Local Government Elections

The eThekwini region is adamant that it will elect new leaders before the local government elections. Photo: Facebook

The ANC in the eThekwini region, once dubbed the biggest region of the former governing party in the country, has set itself a target to host its much-awaited elective conference before this year’s local government elections, potentially avoiding two centres of power.

The assurance comes after allegations that some within the regional task team (RTT) are deliberately delaying the conference in order to “cling to power” and influence the nomination of councillor candidates.

The spokesperson of the RTT, Thinta Cibane, told the African Times that the adopted roadmap for the elective conference for the region is still intact.

“Yes, the region is intending on sitting its conference before local government elections. We have adopted a roadmap which would see the conference before the end of April deadline set by the national office,” Cibane said.

So far, two prominent slates vying for power in the region have emerged and are intensively lobbying branches for their support.

One slate is led by Thabani Nyawose, the current Speaker of eThekwini municipality, who is vying for the powerful position of regional chairperson, which may place him at the pole position to be the next mayor should the ANC recover from the MK Party’s inflicted setbacks and win back the eThekwini metro.

Nyawose, who was narrowly defeated by Zandile Gumede in April 2022, is campaigning with Ayanda Ndlovu as the Regional Secretary and Vusi Mngadi as the Treasurer.

In another slate, former eThekwini Mayor, James Nxumalo, is being punted as the regional chairperson of a slate which has Musa Nciki as the Regional Secretary. Nciki held the same position during the tumultuous tenure of Zandile Gumede.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the provincial task team (PTT), Fable Sibisi, told the African Times that the roadmap for regional conferences still applies and all regional conferences would elect their leaders as planned.

However, in cases where regions encounter challenges, they would be allowed to contest the local government elections with interim structures (PTTs) leading the campaigns.