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Durban - Speculation is rife that the ANC's eThekwini regional elective conference is back on the cards.
Several sources who spoke to News24 on condition of anonymity said the conference was tabled at the Cabinet Lekgotla this week and a decision was taken to hold the conference in August.
ANC Provincial Secretary Sihle Zikalala would not be drawn into divulging what was discussed, but said: “We are working on preparations and consulting with the national leadership. We will only announce the dates after the formal [consultation] processes.”
A party insider in the eThekwini region said the region was now a matter of national interest.
"ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe wants the conference to sit and he was supported by Bheki Cele and Paul Mashatile.
"KZN chairperson Senzo Mchunu suggested that the conference sit on August 15 or August 16,” the source said.
The source questioned why national leadership was rushing the process.
Frustrations
"The matter is being handled by the National Working Committee. Remember the National Working Committee [NWC] was in KZN recently and they issued a directive that a unity programme document be circulated to all the branches. A report has never been submitted on the progress of the programme.
"eThekwini is not ready to sit - the region is a work in progress. The reason why they are rushing the process is because demarcation processes are underway and they could change wards."
The source said the ANC Women’s League elective conference, which will be held next week, could affect the possibility of having a conference in the same month.
"You can’t go from one conference into another. This proves there are people at a national level who have a direct interest and who want the conference to sit," he said.
Another source said: "The decision to hold the conference was made during a closed session at the Lekgotla. Last week, the National Executive Council (NEC) was here visiting all former sub-regions to get activists to vent their frustrations. Those issues were submitted to the NEC.
"As far as the NEC is concerned, all the issues affecting eThekwini have been ironed out. The Women’s League elective conference will not affect the eThekwini conference."
ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa denied that the matter was even discussed at the Cabinet Lekgotla.
