At least 70% of the branches in the ANC’s biggest region — eThekwini — have already met and are preparing for the regional conference to be held in 14 days, says co-ordinator of the ANC regional task team Bheki Ntuli.
According to Ntuli, the eThekwini region has an estimated 100,000 members and 111 branches. It has always been considered the deal-breaker region in the ANC and is again expected to play an influential role in the upcoming KwaZulu-Natal provincial conference and the ANCs national elective conference in December.
Since 2018 the ANC eThekwini region has been led by the regional task team after its previous leadership, including its chair, former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, was dissolved for poor performance.
The ANC in this region is divided. There are two main factions — those who support ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa and those in former president Jacob Zuma’s camp, now part of an ANC faction called the radical economic transformation (RET) and forces loyal to both Zuma, Gumede and the ANC Women’s League.
Gumede and a supporter of Ramaphosa, Thabani Nyawose, are being flagged to compete for the eThekwini leadership race, party insiders said.
“At this stage 30% of the branches have yet to meet. We are preparing to hold the regional conference in the next two weeks. Should we encounter further delays, we will meet in three weeks’ time. But we will definitely meet the end of March deadline,” said Ntuli.
Ntuli refused to comment on ANC speculation that Gumede could make a comeback as chair of the region. Gumede is on trial facing charges of corruption relating to the issuing of a R320m waste contract.
He was also silent on who the region will support as provincial chair or its candidate for ANC president. But he confirmed that the region as usual will give guidance on who should be the next premier and ANC president.
“We will at conference elect our executive committee. We will have an idea closer to the meeting as to who will be nominated as chairperson as well as our other office bearers including secretary-general and treasurer.”
Ntuli said the region is deeply concerned about the recent assassination of its office bearers, which some insiders say are due to the deep divisions within the party. Since January four ANC branch members have been murdered in the region.
“It is a serious problem and we have called on the SAPS who are investigating all the politically motivated killings to deal with these matters and the perpetrators, be it by those within the party or outside. No-one must be protected.”
He said unity was crucial for the region. “This is something the branches are working on. Certainly after the regional conference we will embark on a campaign to bring all our members together. Winners or losers — everyone has a home within the ANC in eThekwini.”
Party insiders told Business Day that the provincial chair position is likely to be a two-horse race between the MEC for finance in the province Nomusa Dube-Ncube and premier Sihle Zikalala.
“It has become clear that while some people want Zikalala gone, there are others who support him. Dube-Ncube on the other hand has the support of the ANC Women’s League and she was previously pipped at the finish line, despite the ANC saying the region should have a women premier,” said an ANC provincial leader.
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