A long wait for a verification report from Luthuli House and disputes lodged by dissatisfied branches have derailed the ANC Dr WB Rubusana region’s plans and forced it to put its eagerly-awaited elective conference on ice — at least for now.
The conference was initially scheduled to take place between July 4 and 6, but has been shelved until further notice.
This was confirmed by the party’s communications, information and publicity chair, Balungile Sapo.
Cited as one of the contributing factors to the delays, the verification report confirms the legitimacy of delegates, branches or structures participating in the conference.
“The regional conference has been postponed due to many factors and one of those factors is that the verification report from national headquarters has not been provided to provide a report on the BBGM [branch biennial general meetings] and BGM [branch general meetings] convened,” she said.
Their meetings are held to nominate candidates for regional leadership and select branch members as delegates for the conference.
“The ANC always wants all branches to be part of the conference and not deny them that participation.
“Unfortunately, some of the branches have appealed the outcomes of the BGMs through the provincial dispute resolution committee.
“The latter committee sits daily to consider appeals not only from the Dr WB Rubusana region but also attends to appeals lodged by branches of Nelson Mandela, Joe Gqabi and Alfred Nzo regions.”
It was unclear whether the region met the necessary requirements for holding the conference.
“That detail of the 70% threshold to convene the regional conference will be determined by the verification report,” Sapo said.
“Preparations for the conference are a work in progress.”
Sapo urged party members to remain focused on the task at hand.
“Branches must carry on with their organisational tasks, including being campaigning ANC branches that lead on issues such as the fight against gender-based violence and femicide, crime, poverty, being part of structures such as clinic committees, school governing bodies, community policing forums, and attend to service delivery matters,” she said.
With its three-year term of office having lapsed in May, the ANC’s Dr WB Rubusana regional executive committee, elected in 2022, was dissolved in May.
After a meeting of its provincial working committee, the party’s provincial secretary, Lulama Ngcukayitobi, announced provincial bosses had resolved to dissolve the region’s leadership collective and replace it with a task team.
The provincial working committee had resolved that outgoing regional chair Princess Faku would lead the 25-member interim task team as regional convener, with regional secretary Antonio Carels as co-ordinator.
The Rubusana region is divided along factional lines with one faction, known as Imvula or The Rain, said to be aligned to Carels, while the other faction, known as Ilanga or The Sun, is said to be aligned to his once close ally, Faku.
It is understood some branches that have already sat have endorsed the Carels-aligned slate, which will see the region’s spokesperson and ANCYL provincial chair, Vuyo Jali, standing for the chair position against Faku.
Carels is eyeing the regional secretary position.
Asked to comment on the conference delays, Carels referred questions to the provincial leadership.
The region will look to intensify its efforts to tighten its grip on the Buffalo City metro during the local government elections in 2026.
The ANC has emphasised the need for immediate action in local government, focusing on service delivery, accountability and transparency as the party looks ahead to the 2026 local government elections.
In its 2024 annual report, the party said it wanted to see a cleanup of local government, competent managers appointed and communities participating in decision-making processes.
The party also stressed the importance of sorting out service delivery issues, communicating timelines, and holding public representatives accountable for performance.
Transparent communication was also highlighted as key to rebuilding public trust.
Daily Dispatch
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