ANC Deeply Divided As eThekwini Elective Conference Is Abandoned
May 3, 2015
Nce Mkhize
Political analyst says shenanigans at ANC eThekwini conference are a sign that the party is now divided along factional lines
THE ruling African National Congress (ANC) is set for a bruising provincial leadership tussle and campaigning for next year’s local government elections is likely to be deeply divided.
This is the view of political analysts after the elective conference of the ANC’s biggest region in the country, eThekwini, had to be abandoned on Saturday after a section of the delegates violently disrupted it. The region has been plagued by trouble for some time now.
The results of the last conference, on February 14, were set aside by the ANC’s national leadership two weeks later, following an anomaly over the participation of three branches. eThekwini metro mayor James Nxumalo was elected chairman of the region in a tightly contested ballot that saw him edge out former regional treasurer Zandile Gumede, by 253 votes to 212. A few days later, thousands of Ms Gumede’s supporters marched to the provincial headquarters, demanding a rerun of the conference and the ANC’s NEC later decided to nullify the result of that conference.
On Saturday morning the mood was tense at the Greyville Racecourse, the venue of the conference. ANC delegates on buses and cars were escorted by Metro Police officials and SAPS vehicles to the venue after reports that some delegates wanted to violently disrupt the conference.
Mr Senzo Mchunu, KwaZulu-Natal Premier and ANC provincial chairperson, said it was sad that the region was engulfed by such intense infighting.
"This is the history we would have been better off without," he said.
As he was delivering his speech, Ms Gumede’s supporters disrupted him by banging tables, singing song that they were underrepresented as some pro-Gumede branches were not allowed to participate at the conference.
Mr Mchunu was forced to abandon his speech and security officers were allowed into the venue. The media was forced to leave the venue as ANC officials, including the delegation of the NEC led by Joe Phaahla, tried to calm the restless delegates.
Later on ANC provincial leaders held a press conference, where they told journalists that the conference had been postponed due to the disruptions.
Mr Sihle Zikalala, ANC’s provincial secretary, said those who had disrupted the conference will face disciplinary action.
Mr Sifiso Kunene, a political analyst with the Institute for Participatory Democracy, said the shenanigans at the ANC eThekwini conference was a sign that the party was now divided along factional lines.
"This kind of behaviour was unheard of in the ANC when leadership struggle was about how best to serve the people. There was no overt animosity and even the losers took their defeat kindly and vowed to work with those who defeated them. But now all that is gone and the gloves are off.
"This clearly shows that the party has ceased to be the organisation of the people but was now taken over by people who wanted to use it for personal and sectional interests," he said.
Mr Kunene added animosity shown towards Mr Mchunu was a clear sign that the upcoming provincial conference would be just as bruising.
Mr Zakhele Ndlovu, University of KwaZulu-Natal’s senior political lecturer, said the party was likely to contest the local government elections bearing signs of deep divisions.
"For the past decade the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has united in supporting President Jacob Zuma during his various trials and tribulations. The party has also grown phenomenally in the province during the same period. But now that unity is nowhere to be seen. The party is likely to go to the next ANC national conference with conflicting voices and positions," he said.
Nce Mkhize
Political analyst says shenanigans at ANC eThekwini conference are a sign that the party is now divided along factional lines
THE ruling African National Congress (ANC) is set for a bruising provincial leadership tussle and campaigning for next year’s local government elections is likely to be deeply divided.
This is the view of political analysts after the elective conference of the ANC’s biggest region in the country, eThekwini, had to be abandoned on Saturday after a section of the delegates violently disrupted it. The region has been plagued by trouble for some time now.
The results of the last conference, on February 14, were set aside by the ANC’s national leadership two weeks later, following an anomaly over the participation of three branches. eThekwini metro mayor James Nxumalo was elected chairman of the region in a tightly contested ballot that saw him edge out former regional treasurer Zandile Gumede, by 253 votes to 212. A few days later, thousands of Ms Gumede’s supporters marched to the provincial headquarters, demanding a rerun of the conference and the ANC’s NEC later decided to nullify the result of that conference.
On Saturday morning the mood was tense at the Greyville Racecourse, the venue of the conference. ANC delegates on buses and cars were escorted by Metro Police officials and SAPS vehicles to the venue after reports that some delegates wanted to violently disrupt the conference.
Mr Senzo Mchunu, KwaZulu-Natal Premier and ANC provincial chairperson, said it was sad that the region was engulfed by such intense infighting.
"This is the history we would have been better off without," he said.
As he was delivering his speech, Ms Gumede’s supporters disrupted him by banging tables, singing song that they were underrepresented as some pro-Gumede branches were not allowed to participate at the conference.
Mr Mchunu was forced to abandon his speech and security officers were allowed into the venue. The media was forced to leave the venue as ANC officials, including the delegation of the NEC led by Joe Phaahla, tried to calm the restless delegates.
Later on ANC provincial leaders held a press conference, where they told journalists that the conference had been postponed due to the disruptions.
Mr Sihle Zikalala, ANC’s provincial secretary, said those who had disrupted the conference will face disciplinary action.
Mr Sifiso Kunene, a political analyst with the Institute for Participatory Democracy, said the shenanigans at the ANC eThekwini conference was a sign that the party was now divided along factional lines.
"This kind of behaviour was unheard of in the ANC when leadership struggle was about how best to serve the people. There was no overt animosity and even the losers took their defeat kindly and vowed to work with those who defeated them. But now all that is gone and the gloves are off.
"This clearly shows that the party has ceased to be the organisation of the people but was now taken over by people who wanted to use it for personal and sectional interests," he said.
Mr Kunene added animosity shown towards Mr Mchunu was a clear sign that the upcoming provincial conference would be just as bruising.
Mr Zakhele Ndlovu, University of KwaZulu-Natal’s senior political lecturer, said the party was likely to contest the local government elections bearing signs of deep divisions.
"For the past decade the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has united in supporting President Jacob Zuma during his various trials and tribulations. The party has also grown phenomenally in the province during the same period. But now that unity is nowhere to be seen. The party is likely to go to the next ANC national conference with conflicting voices and positions," he said.
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