• All ANC Sekhukhune top 5 officials elected unopposed amid a court challenge.
• Tala Mathope retained his regional secretary position.
• Ward 36 member, Mape Pitjadi, briefly interdicted the conference hours before it started.
• Sekhukhune ANC was forced to file a motion of intention to appeal and clear the legal hurdle before proceeding with business.
Makhuduthamaga Mayor Minah Bahula has been elected unopposed as the new Sekhukhune ANC regional chairperson, amid squabbles and legal challenge by a party member who obtained a court interdict hours before the conference started.
Regional secretary Tala Mathope was also re-elected unopposed as were the rest of the top five officials in what appeared to be a display of unity at the regional conference that is currently underway at Boeketlong Lodge in Ga-Maloi, outside Jane Furse, in Limpopo.
The new top five Sekhukhune leadership will spearhead the party’s political programs for the next three years, and lead the upcoming local government elections campaign.
The new Sekhukhune ANC top five are:
• Makhuduthamaga Mayor Minah Bahula as Chairperson; • Elias Motsoaledi Mayor David Tladi as Deputy Chairperson; • Tala Mathope as Regional Secretary; • Fetakgomo Tubatse Mayor Eddie Maila as Deputy Secretary; • Empraim Mogale Mayor Given Moima as Regional Treasurer.
Despite a demonstration of unity amongst the 92 branches, the conference was marred by squabbles that threatened its business.
On Wednesday, 23 April, the Sekhukhune regional court granted ward 36 ANC member, Mape Pitjadi an interdict to halt the party from going ahead with its two-days regional conference.
The order was given after the AMC was found to have not complied with rules and regulations during the ANC Phokanoka branch general meeting (BGM) held to elect delegates to the conference and nominate candidates for leadership positions.
However, the Sekhukhune ANC filed a notice of intention to appeal the interdict the following day (Thursday), clearing the legal impediments and paving the way for the conference to continue as planned.
In its notice of intention to appeal, filed by its lawyers, KA-Mbonane Copper, the ANC accused Magistrate Mahlo of incorrectly applying the rules in granting an urgency order in Pitjadi’s favour.
“The order granted by the Learned Magistrate presents in an incorrect application on the rules on urgency, and amounts to a furthering of an abuse of
court process, initiated by the Applicant.
“Had the Learned Magistrate applied himself to the matter, and ascertained whether the matter was indeed urgent, with regard having been had to evidence of the Respondents, the order would not have been granted.Another court would conclude that no grounds for urgency exists, “ said the ANC’s notice of intention to appeal.
The ANC further cited that the order undermines its rights and those of the thousands of its members who were due to take part in the regional conference.
“Had the legitimate rights of those attending the conference been contemplated, the order would not have been granted. In the circumstances of how the order was granted, a non-joinder of thousands of impacted members and other branches took place. The order was not competently granted in these circumstances,” read part of the notice of appeal.
The conference is expected to conclude with its business on Friday, 25 April, after the election of additional members of the Regional Committee (REC) beef up the top five leadership.
