Disgruntled ANC branches in the Peter Mokaba region marched to the Limpopo provincial headquarters, Frans Mohlala, in Polokwane calling for the province to intervene in the processes towards the regional elective conference that is scheduled to get underway this Friday.
Different branches descended on the ANC Limpopo provincial office on Wednesday, 06 May chanting slogans, demanding that the provincial leadership remove the regional task team (RTT) members and take over the conference logistic reigns. Former Peter Mokaba ANC regional chairperson and Polokwane mayor John Mpe is the convener of the RTT.
However, the aggrieved members were locked outside of the offices.
The discontented members from different ANC sub-regions under Capricorn – such as Polokwane, Lepelle-Nkumpi, Molemole and Blouberg – are accusing the RTT of disobeying the party’s procedures during the branch general meetings (BGMs) held to elect delegates and nominate candidates for the elective conference.
They argue that 49 branches lodged disputes and are still waiting for the provincial dispute resolution committee (PDRC) to resolve their issues.
The disputes range from alleged failure to adhere to the party’s BGM guidelines, parallel packages, two communicated time slots for general meetings, tempering with nominations and delegates forms, the scanning of ID’s with members not been present at the venue, and the scanning of deceased ID to reach quorum.
Peter Mokaba ANC women’s league leader Francina Kubjane, who was part of the march, accused the RTT of destroying the organisation and called on the party’s secretary general Fikile Mbalula to also intervene.
“The convenor of the RTT, (referring to Polokwane Mayor John Mpe) and his people tempered with the nomination and delegate form of ward 18 under Molemole by changing the elected delegates and replaced them with theirs.
“We are tired as Peter Mokaba by the behaviour of this man, people are fed up with him and if you [Mbalula] to save this organisation from the brink of collapse, you should quickly intervene,” Kubjane said.
Deputy chairperson of Polokwane ward 13 Dimakatso Kgasago accused the RTT of running the branch meeting with bogus delegates and buying security personnel to ward off the actual members from participating.
With 103 branches qualified for the elective conference, the region requires 79 branches and more to reach the 70% threshold to proceed with the conference business.
With 49 branch disputes remaining unresolved, the conference is likely to face a hurdle.
Peter Mokaba ANC RTT spokesperson Adolph Rapetswa said the pre-registrations are underway, which is an indication that the province is also committed to ensuring everything is processed, including disputes.
“The number of branches which has been audited and qualified as per the Secretary General’s office has surpassed the 70% threshold and we believe that even if some few branches are ordered to re run they won’t affect the quorum for the conference,” Rapetswa said.
Rapetswa further said the conference will continue as planned, from Friday until Sunday at the Ranch Hotel, outside Polokwane.
Limpopo provincial ANC spokesperson Jimmy Machaka said the disputes lodged by some Peter Mokaba branches remain an internal affair, and the aggrieved members will be informed of the outcomes once resolved by PDRC.
“it is unknown at this stage what number of branches in Peter Mokaba have lodged the Disputes, The Matter remains internal and it Is With the PDRC and once Processed the affected branches will be formally notified of the outcomes,“ he said.
