African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa has urged all the contending parties at the party’s 9th Eastern Cape Elective conference to disband their lobby groups and focus on the unity of the organisation.
He was giving closing remarks of the three-day gathering at the East London ICC on Monday evening.
The conclusion of the conference was delayed by a day following a disagreement over the adoption of credentials.
The leadership contest was between arch rivals Oscar Mabuyane who was re-elected and businessman Babalo Madikizela.
Ramaphosa says both parties now need to work for the unity of purpose and stop purging each other.
He has slammed those who claimed that the African National Congress provincial conference in the Eastern Cape would descend into chaos, saying this is the year their organisational events will be used to strengthen unity and renewal of the ANC.
“I congratulate you comrade because you’ve shown commitment and resoluteness that ensured that this conference took place. Many thought that it would descend into chaos, even the front pages of some newspapers we saying it’s going to descend into chaos and I am glad you proved them wrong.”
Second term
Meanwhile, the ANC in the Eastern Cape has thrown its weight behind President Ramaphosa in his bid for a second term as party president at the December elective conference.
The newly re-elected Provincial Chairperson Oscar Mabuyane has revealed this while welcoming Ramaphosa to close their elective conference. Mabuyane says looking at Ramaphosa’s effort in leading the ANC under difficult conditions, he deserves another term at the helm of Africa’s biggest liberation movement.
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