A group claiming to be the “legitimate” SA National Civil Organisation (Sanco) in KwaZulu-Natal has dismissed a provincial conference where former president Jacob Zuma was elected chair, as “bogus”.
Zuma was elected at the two-day event in Durban at the weekend, which was attended by premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
The “terminally ill” octogenarian will lead the provincial structure of the civil organisation, aligned to the ANC, which focuses on social issues.
But in a lengthy statement Sizwe Cele, who claims he is the legitimate provincial secretary, elected during a 2021 conference, said the organisation was flabbergasted to learn a structure which “referred to itself as the KwaZulu-Natal Sanco” was launched on Friday.
“To add to the fiasco, it was announced that former president of the ANC comrade Jacob Zuma was elected as the provincial chairperson of the same structure.”
Cele claims this happened despite an existing Sanco provincial executive committee being in place and “very much effective in its duties”.
He said the structure is headed by provincial chair Lawrence Dube and himself as provincial secretary.
“This PEC was officially launched in Durban at Moses Mabhida Stadium on June 12 2021. In terms of Sanco’s constitution, its term of office expires after four years which is June 12 2025 in this case.”
Cele claimed the two-day conference was “illegal, unconstitutional” and organised by expelled leaders.
“It should be remembered that Sanco is not a political party but an independent, revolutionary civic organisation which does not draw its existence and relevance from the ANC or the alliance but from its independent constitution and membership.
“We have subsequently seen people trying to convert Sanco into a political party to achieve their botched political ambitions.”
Cele said a “failed Sanco political party” is “the bogus group of Sanco which comrade Zuma is leading today”.
Thulani Gamede, who also identifies as the Sanco secretary, told TimesLIVE Premium that Zuma has always been a member of Sanco and renewed his membership last year.
But Cele claims Zuma has never been a Sanco member but merely delivered messages of support at national conferences when he served as ANC president.
Cele also hit out at Dube-Ncube’s presence at the “illegal” conference.
“As Sanco KZN, we were perplexed to see comrade Dube-Ncube attended that bogus conference ...”
He said the body will be calling for Dube-Ncube to be disciplined and recalled as premier for allegedly undermining the ANC in the province and attending the conference.
But Dube-Ncube’s office rejected Cele’s claims, saying she was invited to address the conference in her capacity as premier.
We have subsequently seen people trying to convert Sanco into a political party to achieve their botched political ambitions.
— Sizwe Cele, who claims he is the legitimate Sanco KZN provincial secretary
“The invitation prescribed the topic for the premier to speak on the ... government programmes and the role of Sanco in the post-apartheid community development project.
“We note with regret the statement casting aspersions on the premier’s attendance at this event.
“The premier is invited on a regular basis by organisations and makes every effort, where possible, to honour such invitations. It is not the premier’s mission to be involved in dirty and petty politics.
“If we are invited as government to any civil society engagements we will honour that with humility. The insults from Sizwe Cele are unfortunate and aim at questioning the premier’s credentials.”
Dube-Ncube’s office said government “in general never ask what faction is inviting us as we work with civil society formations”.
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