Things are not going according to plan for the ANC Gauteng PEC, as branches are exercising their independence and nominating candidates not favoured by the top structure ahead of the governing party’s December national conference.
At least two branches in Johannesburg, in the first week of nominations, have gone against the line set by the PEC after its meeting three days ago, while some leaders of lower structures have contradicted the PEC position publicly.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and David Masondo are among the leaders who did not make the cut in the PEC endorsement but have found support in the branches.
The PEC, for the position of president, threw its weight behind incumbent Cyril Ramaphosa and expressed its wish for Stanley Mathabatha to be elected national chairperson.
But the ANC Joburg ward 90 branch was having none of it and nominated Dlamini-Zuma for president and Masondo for national chair.
To the PEC of Gauteng we hear you but we will not comply, the power rests with the branches.
— Joburg ANCYL convener Thembeni Manana
An insider within the branch executive committee leadership said their preference was in the spirit of entrenching power where it lies — the branch, “which is the basic unit of the ANC”.
“After all, they say amandla asemasebeni (the power resides in the branches).
“A conference of the ANC is a conference of branches and when a PEC pronounces, the branches are not there to make their voice known. The nomination guidelines are clear that the pronouncement of the PEC is not binding for branches,” said the insider.
“The branch debated the issue of leadership at length, looking at individual qualities of leaders and agreed on the names without influence from outside forces.”
The rebellion against the PEC position is also reflected in social media expressions by some leaders of lower structures.
A member of the Joburg regional executive committee posted on Facebook: “PEC members siyanizwa (we hear you). Kodwa ngeke sinilalele (but we will not be dictated to by you).”
Joburg ANCYL convener Thembeni Manana shared similar sentiments, emphasising “to the PEC of Gauteng we hear you but we will not comply, the power rests with the branches”.
Ward 90 branch, which comprises ANC members from areas such as Hyde Park, Illovo, Sandhurst and Craighall, also made history by nominating the most women — four — for election to the so-called ANC top six.
In addition to Dlamini-Zuma, the branch wants Febe Potgieter-Gqubule as secretary-general, Nomvula Mokonyane as her deputy and Vuyiswa Tulelo as treasurer-general, while it endorsed Paul Mashatile for deputy president.
Branch secretary Tlhatlogo Moeketsi said the time for women to lead was now.
“We have always believed that women should lead. Our branch is led by three women as branch chairperson, deputy chair and branch secretary. Our ANCYL branch chairperson is a woman,” said Moeketsi.
“Ward 90 branch has always been progressive and rooted for capable women to emerge.”
Another branch in Joburg, ward 29, also nominated Masondo for national chair, while it rejected Mashatile, opting rather for Mmamoloko Kubayi for the position of deputy president, and expressed its wish for Mashatile to remain in his current position of treasurer-general.
ANC provincial secretary Thembinkosi “TK” Nciza was not available for comment.
Meanwhile, in an apparent strategy to avoid branches speaking parallel to PEC wishes, the KZN ANC has instructed its regional leaders to consult with branches on Monday and Tuesday and collate the popular sentiment which will inform what becomes the pronouncement of the provincial structure.
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