Legal showdown threatens to halt high-stakes ANC conference

A last-minute court bid threatens to derail the high-stakes battle for control of the Eastern Cape ANC and throw this weekend’s provincial elective conference into disarray. In a further twist,ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobilate on Monday sent a letter to “all troikas” retracting invitations to the conference, indicating the proceedings may be cancelled. This comes as party secretary-generalFikile Mbalulais due to meet the provincial executive on Tuesday to discuss an earlier letter by Ngcukayitobi raising concerns about processes followed ahead of the conference.

Three disgruntled party members are seeking a court order to interdict proceedings over alleged irregularities in branch verification and membership processes. The applicants — Lwazi Rotya, Sinethemba Mpande and Nompumelelo Mzotywa — want the court to declare Mbalula’s decision to sign off on the “final verification” report on March 18 unlawful and unconstitutional. They are also asking the court to set aside the “ANC Eastern Cape Summary Report”, which determines which branches are eligible to participate.

ProvincialANCspokesperson Yanga Zicina confirmed the party had received court papers and was preparing its response. “Our lawyers are seized with the procedural issues and are studying the papers. We will file opposing documents,” Zicina said.

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He said the ANC would oppose the “well-orchestrated and well-planned” application. In a statement last week, the provincial executive committee (PEC) said the verification report confirmed that 535 of 554 branches had qualified, surpassing the 70% threshold required to proceed. The PEC said it had “mandated the dispute resolution committees to finalise all conference-related disputes before the conference started to ensure the inclusive participation of the few remaining branches”. On Ngcukayitobi’s concerns, the PEC distanced itself from his letter, saying it had not been processed through provincial structures.

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