Johannesburg - The long delayed ANC provincial conference in the North West was scheduled to proceed yesterday afternoon despite its interim provincial committee (IPC) being stripped of its voting powers.
Obed Bapela, ANC national executive committee (NEC) member and convenor of the party’s NEC deployees in the North West, expressed his confidence that the conference would be proceeding as planned.
On Friday, North West High Court Judge Frances Snyman granted disgruntled ANC members an interdict to prevent the 22-member IPC from voting during the conference.
Tshepo Bosman, from one of the unhappy branches in Matlosana, approached the court to intervene arguing the IPC’s term of office had expired.
However, Bapela said the IPC would still be the functional organising body of the conference.
”The only power they will be forfeit as a result of the court order is the voting power. However, they will be presenting reports, they will be chairing some of the commissions and even the plenary we might even be co-chairing with them,”he explained.
According to Bapela, the IPC is not interdicted and dissolved by the court.
”The understanding and the collective decision is that the conference is not interdicted therefore it will be proceeding. The only affected party in the conference is the IPC members, 22 as cited in the court order and will no longer participate as voting delegates. However, they will now participate as non-voting delegates,” he said, adding that only 20 of the 22 IPC members would have voted.
Bapela said the participation at the conference of IPC members was not in question.
”It’s just the voting that we need to honour and respect the courts because we are this law abiding organisation. We will observe the ruling to the letter,” he added.
He said the ANC went to court yesterday (Friday) to defend on three areas – the urgency, the jurisdiction of the court and costs.
”The matter is not appealable now, however, we will then be able to look at the other issues guided by legal advice,” said Bapela.
He said the judgment has far-reaching implications for the Free State and the Western Cape, which also have IPCs whose terms have been extended.
Both provinces still have to hold their conferences.
Nearly 780 delegates from 316 branches are expected to elect new officials and members of the provincial executive committee.
North West Premier Bushy Maape, former human settlements MEC and ANC MP Nono Maloyi, former chairperson and erstwhile premier Supra Mahumapelo, former Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality mayor Themba Gwabeni, economic development MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi and finance MEC Motlalepula Rosho are expected to stand for election as provincial chairperson at the conference.
Bapela said nominations from the floor were still available for ANC members who wanted to contest but would need to gather 25% of the total number of delegates present.
He undertook that the results would be announced late last night or on Sunday morning.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said the status of members of the four interim regional committees remained the same until the party was advised otherwise.
loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za