KZN ANC task team ordered to rerun crucial conference

The KwaZulu-Natal ANC’s provincial task team’s terms of office has been extended to February after it failed to hold an elective conference.

The 60 plus-member task team (PTT) under Jeff Radebe and Mike Mabuyakhulu was appointed in February following the disbandment of the Siboniso Duma and Bheki Mtolo-led provincial executive committee, after the party's worst provincial electoral performance at last year’s elections. The task team's term ended last week during the botched provincial general council (PGC). 

In a letter by Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, the province has been given until February to put its house in order and hold the elective conference.

“In its special meeting, the  ANC NEC resolved to extend the mandate of the PTT in KwaZulu-Natal up to date of the next meeting in February, which will determine what further interventions must be made with regards to organisational matters in the province,” read the letter.

When Mbalula introduced the task team earlier this year, he gave them three months to audit branches to establish the strength of the ANC in all 11 regions of the province, however, it appeared that Radebe’s team experienced difficulties in executing this task. Many branch leaders and members had left and joined the Umkhonto weSizwe while holding dual ANC membership.

In August, Luthuli House directed the province to hold branch regional and provincial elective conferences by the end of November, however, no region held a conference. According to the road map, the provincial conference was supposed to take place last week, however, the province held a PGC instead, which was dismissed by Luthuli House as not being properly constituted.

Mbalula ordered a rerun of the PGC on Friday, arguing that the PGC was not in line with the ANC rules and regulations as it was not constituted by the branches in good standing.

The ANC in the province confirmed that they were ordered to rerun the PGC but could not provide further details.

Political analyst Professor Bheki Mngomezulu has cast doubt on the ability of the task team to hold the conference in February. He said it was highly likely that Radebe’s team would have conducted 11 regional elective conferences in such a short space of time.

“Factoring in the festive season holidays, it is practically impossible for the province to be ready by February for a conference. Luthuli House will have to consider another extension,” said Mngomezulu.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za