City of Polokwane mayor John Mpe has been re-elected uncontested for the third term as the chairperson of the ANC Peter Mokaba region in Limpopo, in a conference that exposed deep factional divisions.
Mpe and his third term slate were voted unchallenged after his challenger, ANC women’s league provincial chairperson Mamedupi Teffo and her supporters walked out of the conference plenary during the candidates acceptance process.
Mpe was elected unopposed alongside Masilo Paya as the Deputy Chairperson, Lesiba Matsemela was elected Secretary, Kholofelo Lehong as Deputy Secretary, while Merriam Molala took over as Treasurer.
The conference is currently underway at the Peter Mokaba sports complex in Polokwane. Delegates are expected to vote for additional regional executive committee (REC) members, who are all expected to be from third term.
The Peter Mokaba conference got off to a tense start as tensions flared amongst delegates shorty after the ANC provincial deputy chairperson Florence Radzilani’s opening address.
The tension escalated even after the conference delegates’ credentials were adopted, with those aligned to Teffo, the Capricorn District Municipality mayor, kept on disrupting the conference. They questioned the eligibility of some delegates and slammed Limpopo ANC provincial secretary Ruben Madadzhe for allowing the conference to continue.
The police and private securities were called in as the conference turned chaotic, with chairs flying upon delegates and physical fights ensued during candidates nomination acceptance.
While Teffo and her slate boycotted the nominations, Madadzhe can be heard from the conference hall counting from 5-1, to declare leadership elections uncontested.
Teffo and her slate abandoned the conference and walked while their names were being called by the electoral officer to accept their nominations.
“We don’t recognise these delegates credentials which were adopted, because guests (lawyers) and bogus delegates from disputed branches are participating in this conference and the province through Madadzhe allowed this,” said Dineo Makhura.
Makhura further said they intend to lodge a dispute to nullify the outcomes of the conference.
Delegates who aligned with Mpe said those backing Teffo were deliberately disrupting the conference because they didn’t have enough numbers.
“Whatever they protesting about was clarified in there but they kept on harvesting issues in order to disrupt the conference. When people don’t have numbers they must just accept,” Desmond Moloto said.
Paul Rapetswa, a former ANC regional spokesperson who spoke to the media before elections, accused former ANCYL provincial Chairperson Tony Rachoene of leading the disruptions. Rachoene, the MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, was contesting for the Deputy Regional Chairperson position in Teffo’s slate.
“We are quite shocked and disappointed a lot because some of the people who are disruptive are former leaders of the ANCYL. I have seen Tony Rachoene leading the disruptions, while we thought he should be assisting the conference to run smoothly, “ said Rapetswa.
