There is only one Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) in the country, the organisation’s secretary general, Mfanelo Skwatsha, said on Wednesday.
He was reacting to reports that a PAC ”conference or congress” was held in Botshabelo, Free State, over the weekend.
”We wish to place on record that the PAC held its ninth national congress at the University of Fort Hare, in Alice, as from 4 to 6 July 2008,” he said in a statement.
Skwatsha said the conference at Fort Hare elected a new leadership with Letlapa Mphahlele as its president. ”We therefore wish to state that there is one PAC, one leadership and one president.”
He confirmed that the PAC applied for an interdict in the Bloemfontein High Court after it came to its attention that ”some elements” intended to have a gathering under the auspices of the PAC.
The interim interdict prevented the holding of any gathering and meeting under the banner or name of the PAC.
It also prohibited the group from alleging to hold a national congress of the PAC, or holding any press conferences or issuing press statements on behalf of or purporting to be the leadership of the PAC.
Skwatsha said it was clear that these ”elements” are now in contempt of court and the party has instructed its legal team to take action against them.
He also urged the media to respect the PAC’s rights. ”That is, that the name of the PAC belongs only to the party under the leadership of Mphahlele,” said Skwatsha.
He said the national executive committee of the PAC will meet this week to finalise its preparations for the 2009 elections.
It plans to hold provincial congresses within the next three months, starting with the Eastern Cape on August 23. At these congresses candidates will be nominated for the 2009 elections. — Sapa