The ANC Eastern Cape elective conference is expected to wrap up on Monday with President Cyril Ramaphosa giving the closing address. The failed court bid to interdict the conference at the weekend delayed the proceedings, which were due to wrap up on Sunday.
The outcome of the conference, to elect a provincial leader and executive committee, will have implications for Ramaphosa’s bid for a second term as ANC president at the ANC national conference in December.
While there had been allegations of manipulation of membership in several branches, the ANC moved to assure delegates at the weekend that the conference could go ahead after the national body signed off on the final verification report.
The race towards the Gauteng ANC provincial conference will gain momentum this week with the party’s Johannesburg region expected to hold its electoral conference. The Johannesburg region’s three-day conference, which kicks off on Friday, will see regional secretary Dada Morero face off with former mayor Mpho Moerane for the position of regional chair.
The other Gauteng ANC regions — including Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and West Rand — are expected to hold their conferences in coming weeks before the Gauteng provincial conference in June, when Lebogang Maile, MEC for human settlements, urban planning and co-operative governance and traditional affairs, and education MEC Panyaza Lesufi are expected to contest for the party’s top provincial position.
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has indicated that he will release a white paper on national rail policy this week.
The African Mining Indaba returns to the Cape Town International Convention centre this week after two years of the event being conducted virtually due to the Covid-19 pandemic. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the keynote address, while minister of mineral resources & energy Gwede Mantashe will deliver the opening address on Monday.
It will be a busy week in parliament with Deputy President David Mabuza expected to answer questions in the National Council of Provinces, and the various departments presenting their budgets for the 2021/2022 financial year.
Mabuza will answer questions on the disruption of services in flood-hit areas in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the negative effect of red tape on efforts to support and stimulate rural and township economies.
The budget votes for departments, to be tabled in the National Assembly, will start on Thursday with the office of the chief justice and the departments of higher education & training; sport, arts & culture; international relations & co-operation; agriculture, land reform & rural development; and public service & administration. The national school of government and the Public Service Commission begin the process.
The budget votes for the departments of water & sanitation and social development will take place on Friday in the National Assembly.
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