ANC urged to fast-track dispute resolution in Limpopo
Leadership battles delay the Peter Mokaba regional conference as ANC branches call for urgent dispute resolution.
The ANC regional task team (RTT) in the Peter Mokaba region is pleading with the office of the party's secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, to enforce the national dispute resolution committee (NDRC) mechanism to fast track resolving disputes.
This after disputes were lodged by branches during branch general meetings (BGMs), ahead of the regional elective conferences.
The conferences are a build-up to the provincial elective conference, which will then culminate into the national elective conference in 2027.
ANC in turmoil over unresolved disputes
The conference cannot sit if the disputes are not completely resolved. That is why the conference at the Peter Mokaba region was postponed for the fourth time last weekend.
The region is one of the most influential between ANC elective conferences.
It has a total of 113 branches and more than a quarter of them lodged complaints with the party's provincial and national dispute resolution committees.
ALSO READ: 'Third Term' slate shines at Limpopo ANC elective conference
This led to Mbalula's office ordering the NDRC to work with speed for the conference to take place.
In a letter to the ANC provincial secretary, Vhamusanda Madadzhe, Mbalula confirmed they were working with the NDRC to speed up the process and ensure the conferences go ahead.
The Citizen understands out of 31 disputes, the NDRC is left with 10, which are yet to be finalised.
10 of 31 disputes finalised
Last week, ANC Limpopo chair Stan Mathabatha told the Norman Mashabane regional conference that conferences should be about branches and not factional slates.
Mathabatha urged a faction led by former regional secretary Goodman Mtileni to rally behind the winning faction, called the 'Third Term', led by Pule Shayi.
Shayi won the conference on a clean sweep, winning all the top five positions with big margins.
ALSO READ: Limpopo ANC conference rocked by membership manipulation claims
ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka said the party's constitution provides that branch members can lodge a dispute to the provincial dispute resolution committee within 48 hours after the BGM.
He said it was an ANC tradition that those who have grievances during BGMs must lodge a dispute through party structures.
'It is constitutional to lodge complains through relevant structures of the ANC as provided by the constitution,' he said.
Party's constitution
'But in the same breath, it is unconstitutional to take the grievances to a court of law because our structures are more capable of disposing any dispute than the courts.'
While many in the ANC are waiting for Peter Mokaba region to conclude its business, the question on everyone's lips is: who will win?
Will it be ANC bigwig John Mpe, who is vying for a third term, or it will be Limpopo premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba's crony, Mamedupi Teffo?'
ALSO READ: ANC elective conference in Limpopo stalled by disputes
Ramathuba is fighting for her group to win all the province's four regional conferences in order for her to be elected the party's provincial chair at the upcoming ANC Limpopo elective conference.
She has already won Sekhukhune and Vembe regions, but has lost in the Norman Mashabane region.
A win in Peter Mokaba region would ensure her route to the top provincial job.
A win for Ramathuba in region would ensure route to top job
But if Mpe wins the conference, a different political story would be told and a new chapter for the ANC would be opened.
Mpe, who doubles up as Polokwane municipality mayor and the South African Local Government Association provincial chair, is believed by many to be the best contender against Ramathuba.
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