The African National Congress’s (ANC) national executive committee (NEC) was locked behind closed doors on Friday at its second meeting since the Polokwane national conference in December, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported.
The aim was to rid the party of internal wrangles simmering since its policy conference. The four-day meeting is taking place in Esselen Park, in the east of Johannesburg.
The NEC is to address issues of unity, public relations and policy.
”Two days will be dedicated to political debate, which looks into the run-up to the Polokwane conference, post-Polokwane, and scans the whole political environment,” party general secretary Gwede Mantashe told the public broadcaster.
The pre-Polokwane unity within the tripartite alliance was key to Jacob Zuma’s ascendancy to the presidency, but now the ANC is showing some strain. Diverse policy perspectives are causing tension with its key allies.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions and South African Communist Party have been critical about some ANC policies, particularly on economic and labour issues. The ruling party now finds itself in a position where it continuously has to fend off allegations of purging.
The tripartite alliance will hold a meeting in May, which could be its biggest test yet. The parties have to find middle ground, and projecting a united front could be a challenge, the SABC reported. — Sapa