Nafcoc president heads to Constitutional Court to settle leadership squabble

Ousted Nafcoc president Joe Hlongwane is taking his claim to the organisation's leadership post to the Constitutional Court, according to a report.

Hlongwane told the Sunday Independent he would appeal a Supreme Court of Appeal decision last month that effectively ousted him as president of the National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc).

"It will be business as usual until the Nafcoc leadership matter has been settled at the Constitutional Court," Hlongwane said.

His rival Lawrence Mavundla said the appeal court's ruling had already ensured Hlongwane's claim to the presidency was legally nullified.

The Supreme Court of Appeal found a meeting held in December 2012, during which Hlongwane was elected Nafcoc president, "not lawfully convened".

"The resolutions taken at the meeting were invalid and of no force and effect," the judgment reads.

Following the ruling, Mavundla pronounced himself the legitimate leader.

The Supreme Court of Appeal called Nafcoc "an organisation at war with itself".

The Sunday Independent reported that the organisation was operating as two parallel groups, each operating out of different offices in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Founded in 1964, Nafcoc claims a membership of 156,000 and says it has its roots in early informal black trader organisations of the 1940s.