/ 11 November 2015

Mchunu supporters cry foul over ANC conference

The  ANC's KwaZulu-Natal leader Senzo Mchunu.
The ANC's KwaZulu-Natal leader Senzo Mchunu.

Supporters of ousted ANC chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal and premier Senzo Mchunu are planning to lodge a dispute with Luthuli House on the outcome of the provincial conference, which they claim was unconstitutional. Mchunu was defeated by former provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala for the chairperson position during the highly-charged provincial conference over the weekend.

But now Mchunu’s supporters are crying foul – claiming that organisational processes were violated during the voting process. Among other things, Mchunu’s supporters claim:

  • The provincial conference was not opened by the provincial chairperson and that no explanation was given for the deviation.
  • All conference reports, including the political, organisational & financial report, were given outside a constituted meeting, as there were bogus delegates when that was taking place. The provincial conference had to adjourn for over six hours after it was discovered there were more than 300 bogus delegates. 
  • The agenda, including reports, were not accepted and adopted by conference, but it still continued.
  • Results on the voting for officials were declared when the conference was adjourned. It was therefore also done in a not properly constituted meeting. The same as above can be said with additional members whose results were communicated when the meeting was long adjourned and not communicated to the conference delegates.

Two regional leaders in KZN told the Mail & Guardian on Wednesday that several branch leaders met on Tuesday to express their unhappiness about the outcome of the results.

According to an SMS circulated to ANC members, ANC branches should approach Luthuli House to complain about the outcome of the conference.

The SMS reads: “The process of disputing shall be done as follows. Where we have support in regions, special REC meetings shall be convened before Friday to discuss the conference and lodge disputes including attendance registers and minutes. And also in branches it is recommended that our BECs [branch executive committees] do as the above by sending letters through the core and emails to the organizational chief administrator, which is the ANC Secretary General ([email protected]). BECs and RECs shall mention challenges they experienced during the conference as structures and also how they were frustrated on processes leading to BGMs [branch general meetings]. The manipulated outcomes were a smoke screen process to legitimise personal agendas of certain individuals within the ANC.” 

ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza said the party could only comment once the disputes were lodged.

“We will not comment on intentions or what has not been made official. We have procedures regarding lodgement of complaints,” said Khoza.