The provincial secretary of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape has stepped in to resolve the ongoing impasses in branches of the party in the OR Tambo region, which incorporates cities like Mthatha.
Lulama Ngcukaitobi has since written to the region and notified it that the province would resolve the issues that caused conflicts in 27 branches in the region.
The BGM (branch general meetings) of these branches have been marred by allegations of gatekeeping, processes manipulation, which have led to fist fights during some sittings.
In a letter dated 18 June 2025, Ngcukaitobi said the party is committed to renewal, hence the move to listen to those with grievances and resolve them.
“The Office of the Provincial Secretary has received a collaborative letter from the said 27 branches of OR Tambo Region, seeking audience. The letter further indicates a planned peaceful march to ANC Provincial Office to submit a petition of all the matters to which the 27 branches need intervention on.
“At this point, the ANC is committed to its renewal and rebuilding process, and to see that through, the ANC has developed guidelines, adopted by NEC ahead of BBGM’s and BGM’s, clearly stipulating how the ANC must undertake its internal process with regards to BBGM’s and BGM’s for Regional Conferences. To ensure there is adherence to the guidelines, ANC PEC further issued a memo to all its structures and members,” reads the letter from Ngcukaitobi.
He then told the branches that to that effect, the said 27 branches are advised of the processes to be undertaken by the ANC PEC (provincial executive committee) to respond to their iissues.
“1. In KSD sub-region: • Ward 11, 33 and 26 – must present themselves before the Provincial Dispute Resolution Committee (PDRC) on Friday, 20 June 2025 at 10H00 at ANC Regional Office, Mthatha. Ward 3 and 14 – are yet to convene their BBGM’s and BGM’s, which is a prerequisite for the signing of the packages. These branches are advised to visit Regional Office, to collect packages so that they can convene theirBBGM’s and BGM’s,” he said.
In the Nyandeni sub-region he said in Ward 4, the branch still needs to present itself at the Regional Office to sign the package after their BGM.
“Ward 25 – with the corrected verification report, the branch can return to the Regional Office too, for signing of their package.
“In Mhlontlo sub-region: Ward 8 and 24 – are yet to convene their BBGM’s and BGM’s and advised to visit the Regional Office to collect the packages. Ward 2 – this branch is not in good standing, with the current membership in good standing seating at 16 members, against the required 100 members for the branch to qualify to convene its BBGM or BGM.
“Further take note that the following branches have no issues as things stands, and they have signed their packages. Ward 24 in KSD, Ward 7 in Nyandeni and Ward 23 and 26 in Mhlontlo.”
Despite his plea that the submitting of a petition on Thursday be halted, the aggrieved branches, undertook it and voiced their anger.
