The ANC uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association in the Eastern Cape defied an order by party secretary general Ace Magashule and held a provincial elective conference in Buffalo City and announced new leadership.
Magashule and national MKMVA secretary-general Moretlo Mophethe wrote to the provincial ANC, asking it to halt the conference.
The war heroes, some bearing scars from their armed battle against apartheid, sat solemnly in the Osner Hotel’s conference room and went about their business of electing leaders.
The conference went ahead with 143 verified delegates. MKMVA spokesperson Carl Niehaus and ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe, who works closely with Magashule, did not respond to requests for comment.
Speaking to the Dispatch on Friday, Niehaus threatened action against vets who participated in the elective conference.
The top five positions were filled with unopposed nominations.
Mandla Dilima was elected chairperson, AB Mxhosana, deputy chair, Bushy Vantyu secretary, Thembekile Mboza treasurer and Ntsikelelo Khwezi is the new deputy secretary.
Veterans who attended the event expressed their disappointment that most of their comrades in arms were dying as paupers and few got state funerals.
They also noted that they did not get special pensions, as did their South African Defence Force counterparts.
Vantyu shrugged off Niehaus’s threat of disciplining members who attended the conference, and said Magashule was trying to interfere with the work of the province.
Provincial chairperson Dilima said the conference had been held without any glitches and vowed that their administration would work to take care of veterans’ conditions.
Additional members elected to the leadership were Mike Hala, Mvuyelisi Nodongwe, Thembekile Mboza, Phumlani Kubukeli, Mzakhwe Luse, Oupa Phooko, Mziwoxolo Stokwe, Vuma Makeke, Peter Mxhosana, Mvula Mthimkhulu and Ntsikelelo Kwezo.
Dilima said: “All the expected delegates arrived. There were great resolutions that will impact positively on the livelihood of MK veterans in the province.”
Addressing the letters from Magashule and Mophethe, Vantyu said: “We don't understand the basis of the letter. We were in line with the ANC's 54th conference resolutions [which seek] to unite the MK.
“We couldn't wait any longer for the so-called efforts by national to unite the MK vets, while our people are dying without accessing the benefits prescribed in the department of military veterans Act.”
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