Court challenges loom over ANC conference

COURT challenges loom large over the African National Congress (ANC) 53rd National Conference kicking off in Mangaung on Sunday.
Procedural complaints have marred the run-up to the gathering — particularly in provinces divided between the support of President Jacob Zuma and his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe.

It is not the first time members have turned to the courts ahead of a national conference — the party faced a challenge ahead of its Polokwane conference in 2007. However, the matter was then dismissed.

The Constitutional Court ruling on Friday declaring the Free State provincial congress unlawful and invalid resulted in the ANC’s top brass disbanding the leadership structure elected there.

But ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said the ruling had no impact on the 324 delegates to the conference from the Free State.

Lobbyists from the pro-Zuma faction on Saturday said there was a “possibility” of further court action from disgruntled provinces. But the ANC was “prepared” for it.

“The possibility is always there especially because of the Free State verdict … It’s given them false hope,” a source said.

Another source said there was also a chance the outcome of the conference could be challenged in court.

However, Mr Zuma’s supporters remained confident of a favourable outcome for their candidate.

Members from the North West have also said that they may resort to further court action if the conference does not address their concerns over being excluded from the province’s delegation to the gathering.

The members approached the North West High Court to interdict the delegation from attending, but their application was dismissed. However, the court also ordered the national conference to deal with the concerns raised by the members.

The conference got off to a slow start on Sunday — it was scheduled to begin at 8.30am but by 11am delegates were still filing slowly into the plenary tent, able to house about 6,500 people.

The party colours, black, green and gold swept across the University of the Free State, where the conference is hosted.

Whistles and singing could be heard from inside the plenary tent, but outside delegates stood patiently in line to enter — most clad in ANC T-shirts — ahead of an address by President Jacob Zuma.

Security was tight at entry points to the plenary tent, with the country’s top political brass set to be in attendance.

National executive committee members sat on stage talking amongst themselves as delegates sang and danced in the stifling heat inside.

Mr Zuma’s supporters chanted and sang his praises, a clear indication he was well set to retain the part presidency when delegates vote later on Sunday.

Delegates chanted “Limpopo Zuma,” indicating some from the province with pro-change leaders were backing the incumbent.

Mr Zuma’s deputy Kgalema Motlanthe is set to challenge him for the party’s top spot.

North West delegates — also a hotly contested province — sang Mr Zuma’s praises and that of one of his key allies, embattled former Free State chairman Ace Magashule.

Mr Magashule’s re-election to the province’s hot seat was set aside on Friday after a Constitutional Court ruling declaring the Free State’s provincial elective conference unlawful and invalid.

Its been a long road to Mangaung, with many bumps along the way as nomination processes preceding it were marred by allegations of fraud and manipulation.

Claims of bogus and ‘ghost’ delegates replacing genuinely elected ones, blighted the process.

Mr Zuma will kick off proceedings with his political report, followed by a report on the state of the organisation by ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe.

The adoption of credentials, or the voters’ roll, is likely to be intensely debated as aggrieved provinces bring their complaints over procedures to the conference floor.