Western Cape ANC divided on Mangaung nominations

30 November 2012 - 18:24 By Sapa
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Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, left, shares a moment with President Jacob Zuma. File photo.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, left, shares a moment with President Jacob Zuma. File photo.
Image: Times Media

Divisions on who Western Cape ANC branch delegates want to nominate for the ruling party's Mangaung Conference were evident at a Provincial General Council (PGC) meeting on Thursday.

The nomination proceedings, taking place at the University of the Western Cape, were delayed as Provincial Executive Committee members met behind closed doors to verify branch lists.

The Western Cape has 170 branches.

Only 150 qualified to attend the PGC, because they had, according to party rules, held their branch general meetings to nominate a delegate to attend Mangaung.

Of the 150, 122 delegates have been verified to vote in Thursday's PGC.

The rest of the names will be checked against branch lists to confirm whether they are members in good standing, and whether they have been endorsed by branch leadership.

Delegates were told to go for lunch while the verification process continues.

They were expected to return and register for the PGC.

As delegates left the UWC lecture hall where voting is to take place, two groups emerged, some singing pro-Zuma songs, others singing that it was time for the president to go.

Delegates and their supporters were also told to take off T-shirts bearing the pictures of their preferred candidates.

Some wore attire with Zuma's face painted on it.

Others wore sweaters with the words "anti-tribalism" printed on them as well as a list of their top six for the ANC, which included Kgalema Motlanthe for President, Matthews Phosa for deputy president, and Tokyo Sexwale for treasurer general.

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