Tensions within theANCin Johannesburg have resurfaced. This time, it’s over allegations that the recent regional conference, which saw mayorDada Morerolose his chairperson position toLoyiso Masukuwas manipulated to favour party deputy presidentPaul Mashatile’s faction over that of secretary general Fikile Mbalula before the 2027 national elective conference. Sources close to the matter say Election Management Consulting Agency of Africa (EMCA), the company appointed to oversee the electoral process, had potential conflicts of interest, raising questions about the integrity of thevotethat saw Mashatile-aligned candidates dominate the regional executive committee in December Mbalula’s faction is disputing the outcome of the regional elective conference, citing irregularities in ballot design and candidate listings.
The former director of the company who works in the supply chain of the City of Johannesburg, resigned from the company in June and was replaced by her child who was born in 1992, sources told theMail & Guardian. Of concern to Morero’s slate is the fact that the former company director, whose name is known to the M&G, previously worked in Masuku’s office in the city as a media liaison officer, raising questions about a possible conflict of interest. The disgruntled party members say the timing of her resignation raised eyebrows as this was just a month before the conference was initially meant to sit.
The conference was postponed in July as it did not meet the threshold and again two more times before finally sitting in December. A Morero ally said the woman did not disclose her affiliation to the company. “She was one of the 130 employees the DA got rid of when it took power [in Johannesburg in 2021].
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She worked in Loyiso’s office as a media liaison officer. That cannot be a coincidence. She also did not declare this company to the city,” the source said.
EMCA director Nkulie White rejected the allegations of misconduct against the company, saying it did not participate in political decision-making, candidate selection or factional processes. However, ANC regional sources noted that for the first time, a different ballot was used for the vote, saying this pointed to an intention to steal the conference. “In the ANC, the ballot always has all the top five in one ballot but this time the ballots were separate. All the top five positions had separate ballots and were put in separate boxes, something which has never been done,” said an insider.
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