Free State ANC group revolts against Ace and ‘his’ PEC

A group of Free State ANC members are pushing strongly against party secretary-general Ace Magashule’s bid to see his allies dominate the party in the province.

Almost three weeks since the election of the new ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) in the Free State, moves are afoot to challenge the legitimacy of the new leadership, which mainly comprises members aligned to Magashule.

The provincial conference, held on May 18 to 19, elected police, roads and transport MEC Sam Mashinini as chairperson, William Bulwane as deputy chairperson and Paseka Nompondo as the new provincial secretary. Mamiki Qabathe became deputy secretary and Premier Sisi Ntombela was elected treasurer.

All are considered to be Magashule’s allies and have served under his leadership in the ANC and government.

Mashinini, although he was formerly a Congress of SA Trade Unions provincial secretary, is also personally close to the ANC secretary-general.

This group constituted the controversial provincial task team that ran ANC affairs and organised the provincial conference after the previous PEC, led by Magashule, was declared null and void by the Free State High Court late last year.

The party members opposing Magashule have given ANC head office in Johannesburg an ultimatum to disband the latest PEC or face a legal challenge. They said they did not recognise the new provincial leaders elected in Bloemfontein because they were elected by illegitimate delegates, instead of genuine branches.

The group’s spokesperson, Monnapule Ntamo, said: “Our stand is clear, we don’t recognise the so-called PEC because there had been no branch general meetings and no branch audits. But they held their provincial conference using the same delegates from the Parys conference that the court nullified last year.”

He said they were waiting on the ANC national executive committee (NEC) to look into the Free State issue. The NEC was expected to hold a special meeting soon for a briefing on the situation before deciding on a course of action.

Ntamo accused minister of communications and NEC member Nomvula Mokonyane of encouraging divisions in the Free State ANC. He said Mokonyane had presided over the conference [to elect the new PEC] knowing that it was unconstitutional.

“We are worried about her role in sowing disunity in the Free State. She is a common denominator in Free State ANC affairs. She opened the unconstitutional conference. Why is she dividing the ANC in this province? Why does she always preside over problematic Free State conferences?” Ntamo asked.

It’s understood Free State ANC members opposing the PEC gate-crashed last week’s ANC NEC meeting in Irene, near Pretoria, demanding the party’s top structure dissolve the new PEC and ensure a new, inclusive provincial structure is elected.

They demanded a provincial conference and new elections be organised to produce a legitimate PEC.

According to a member of the group, Ike Moroe, they had met with Magashule, who assigned ANC NEC member David Mahlobo to facilitate meetings between the PEC and the unhappy members.

“The meeting agreed that Mahlobo will organise a five-a-side meeting between the PEC and our group. Mahlobo undertook to facilitate the meeting, but we told them we will meet with the PEC merely as comrades, not as a structure, because we don’t recognise them,” Moroe said.

The meeting has been delayed as Magashule is abroad and Mahlobo is in parliament. However, Mahlobo was still committed to facilitating the gathering.

Neither party spokesperson Pule Mabe nor Magashule were available when attempts were made to contact them for comment yesterday.

– ericn@citizen.co.za

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