ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has warned the party in the province to stay united or risk losing its status as a kingmaker nationally.
He warned that the province risked its role in shaping the country’s direction.
“If we fail to unite, we risk losing our power to shape national politics, and our role as kingmakers will be severely diminished.”
Mbalula highlighted the importance of party cohesion, crediting his own ascension to ANC secretary-general to the support he received from the Eastern Cape.
“I wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for the Eastern Cape. Also, Diya [provincial chair Oscar Mabuyane] missed [the deputy presidency position] by a hair’s breadth.
“The Eastern Cape remains a stronghold of the ANC, with the party enjoying majority rule and dominating the province’s politics without significant challenges from other parties or being in a coalition.
“The Eastern Cape is and will continue to be an ANC province, where we share power with no other party.”
Mbalula urged Mabuyane and secretary Lulama Ngcukaitobi to ensure the Eastern Cape remained united.
The two are said to be preparing to contest for the position of provincial chair in 2026.
Mbalula was speaking at the OR Tambo ANC regional conference at the weekend.
“Don’t let the province go off track. Keep the unity of purpose intact and don’t be divided over positions.
“Stop fighting among yourselves and dividing the provincial ANC.
“Maintain the unity and cohesion that has made the ANC strong in this province, work together as a collective and avoid factionalism that could undermine our collective efforts.”
Mbalula also warned delegates against pre-empting the national elective conference, cautioning that no pronouncements had been made about contests for top positions.
Mbalula and ANC national chair Gwede Mantashe warned delegates of the dangers of factionalism, saying it weakened the organisation.
Opening the conference, Mantashe said: “Factionalism and indiscipline are a recipe for disaster.
“When we allow ourselves to be driven by personal interests and factional loyalties, we undermine the unity and cohesion that have made our organisation strong.”
The conference, held between Friday and Sunday, saw four of the five incumbent leaders retaining their positions with convincing margins.
Of the 289 voting delegates, the winners each achieved more than 200 votes, with their opponents getting less than 90 votes.
Mesuli Ngqondwana, OR Tambo’s district mayor, was re-elected regional chair, beating Great Kei municipal manager Lawrence Mambila.
Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa was re-elected deputy regional chair, beating King Mhlontlo mayor Mbulelo Jara.
Vinny Tsita retained the regional secretary position, beating King Sabata Dalindyebo council chief whip Bongani Mlanjeni.
OR Tambo district councillor and the ANC Youth League’s Mvuyisi Mbhede was elected deputy regional secretary, outperforming Port St Johns mayor Cebisa Mazuza.
Mlamli Mpheleli secured the regional treasurer position, beating Ingquza Hill councillor Vuyokazi Somani.
Ngqondwana warned the ANC against those joining the party for “converting the ANC to a quick cash scheme for master manipulators who have no direct affection for the aspirations of our people”.
He said the ANC lacked “devoted and dedicated foot soldiers”.
“A huge majority of our leaders join this organisation for prestige and opportunity.
“Leaders elected to structures consider their only job to be that of critiquing those deployed in the state.
“The need for a direct discourse between our communities and the organisation has been abandoned.
“The organisation only interacts with people to divide them when election time comes.”
Ngqondwana said less care was paid to the protection of the ANC’s hegemony.
“The anarchic manner in which we handle dissent within our structures goes a long way towards tearing the ANC apart. The scent of animosity dominates the spirit of comradeship and brotherhood.
“Leaders are ready to destroy and kill this organisation, as long as that guarantees them ascension or re-election to positions of power.
“ANC meetings have recently been characterised by the presence of heavy security personnel, and sometimes thugs, to intimidate members and thwart democracy and internal process.
“Some thugs demand that leaders pay security fees.”
Ngqondwana said unity was one of the ANC’s founding principles.
“As it now appears, our crop of leaders place no value whatsoever on unity, nor do they fear disunity.
“We have become an organisation whose membership simply cannot tolerate coexistence.
“We have become an organisation that celebrates its members leaving for other political parties.”
Ngqondwana also spoke strongly against factionalism within the party, saying this had spilt over into municipalities.
Daily Dispatch
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