ANC Eastern Cape conference postponed over unresolved disputes

The party planned to host its convention from Friday through Sunday.

The conference was postponed due to disagreements during its provincial working committee meeting, which finished on Tuesday.

Complaints about processes have dominated the province, and its authorities were concerned that the concerns may jeopardize the conference’s success, according to News24.

“It became clear during the assessment that some of the disagreements are still being addressed by the National Dispute Resolution Committee, and the verification report has therefore not been signed by the acting secretary-general,” the ANC stated on Tuesday night.

A new date for the conference will be announced by the provincial task committee. The ANC’s provincial organization in the Eastern Cape was dismantled in February, and a task team was formed to prepare for the conference.

Because of the violence observed during the gathering, the province last conducted a conference known as the festival of chairs in 2017.

Former provincial chairperson Oscar Mabuyane and former provincial treasurer Babalo Madikizela are anticipated to clash for political control of the province during the conference.

Both men have opposing slates of supporters.

However, party sources say there is a strong push for the duo to run on a single ticket for the presidency.

According to sources, senior party figures close to President Cyril Ramaphosa discussed the idea.

The outcome of the provincial conference has a significant bearing on the ANC’s national elective conference planned for December where Ramaphosa is likely going to seek a second term as party leader.