The leadership of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) is experiencing a communication breakdown, Sanco deputy president Ruth Bhengu said on Thursday.
”We have not met since yesterday [Wednesday],” Bhengu said.
Sanco’s fourth national conference at the University of the Free State was adjourned on Wednesday, its second day.
”The president of Sanco, Mlungisi Hlongwane, adjourned the conference. We do not know what the way forward is going to be,” Bhengu said.
The conference was adjourned before the election of the new leadership could take place at the end of the second day.
Bhengu said she heard on national radio on Thursday that Sanco’s national working committee would be meeting, but she had not been informed of it by Thursday afternoon.
Asked about the future of Sanco, Bhengu said she was convinced that Sanco would come out stronger after the current challenges it faced had been handled.
”For too long there’s been trouble in Sanco. Challenges have not been exposed and addressed.”
Bhengu said the communication ”breakdown” within Sanco’s leadership had been going on since before this week’s conference, which was marred by disgruntled delegates.
”We were not meeting as we should have before the conference.”
Before the conference was adjourned on Wednesday, President Thabo Mbeki also urged the organisation and individuals to stop fighting for leadership positions and serve the cause of the bigger alliance movement.
Sanco president, Mlungisi Hlongwane, could not be reached on Thursday. — Sapa