MKMVA’s June conference might be next to be annulled – report
Former combatants of the ANC’s armed wing want the party’s NEC to consider nullifying the outcomes of the congress.
MKMVA Chairperson, Kebby Maphatsoe and South African President, Jacob Zuma during the uMkhonto WeSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) 5th National Conference held at the Birchwood conference center in Boksburg, 9 June 2017. Picture: Neil McCartney
As the ANC grapples with some of its structures mounting legal action to challenge the legitimacy of the party’s elected leaders at provincial and regional conferences, the uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association’s (MKMVA) 5th national conference could be next in line to be annulled.
According to a News24 report, former combatants of the ANC’s erstwhile armed wing have asked the party’s highest decision-making body between conferences, the national executive committee (NEC), to consider nullifying the outcomes of the MKMVA congress that was held in June at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.
The appeal to the NEC is said to be spearheaded by former MK chief-of-staff Siphiwe Nyanda and former MKMVA secretary Dumisani Nduli, who claim the conference – which re-elected a staunch supporter of President Jacob Zuma, Kebby Maphatsoe, as its president – was held without permission from the party’s executive committee.
Their application was presented during this past weekend’s ANC NEC meeting. The NEC has reportedly decided to refer the matter to the party’s national working committee (NWC), after which it would study the recommendations and make a decision.
Maphatsoe has rejected a report by ANC NEC member Tito Mboweni that apparently showed that the MKMVA June conference was divisive and not inclusive.
Mboweni and Joel Netshitenzhe were deployed to the congress as part of an NEC task team, which also included ministers Ayanda Dlodlo, Fikile Mbalula, Gugile Nkwinti and Lindiwe Zulu.
However, Mboweni and Netshitenzhe did not attend the conference, while Dlodlo and Mbalula sent an apology for their absence.
“There are two contradicting reports from NEC members. One is comrade Tito [Mboweni’s], who did not attend the conference, but is the one presenting the report,” Maphatsoe told the news website on Tuesday.
He also disputed claims made by Mboweni to the NEC that he had met with both the MKMVA and members of the MK Council, which is led by Nyanda.
“I stood up and said he is lying, we never had a meeting with the comrade. He is lying, that is not true. We never had a meeting with comrade Tito and his team,” said Maphatsoe.
A source News24 spoke to contradicted Maphatsoe’s statements, saying the MKMVA president did in fact met with Mboweni at his office at Luthuli House before the conference was held.
Another source told the news website Maphatsoe apparently did not have permission to go ahead with the June conference, and that the MK Council took exception to Zuma’s presence during the conference.
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