By: Staff Reporter
More than 90% of ANC branches in the Free State are out of their mandate, Interim provincial committee (IPC) spokesman Oupa Khoabane told Africa News Global on Monday.
Khoabane said some of the branches were out of their mandate for more than five years.
“The process of reconstitution of structures had to start in January, after reconstituting the regions in October. More than 90% of branches in the Province were out of their mandate for a long time, some for more than 5 years,” he added.
Khoabane said there were less than 10% of the branches in good standing, as per the report from the national office.
He emphasised the importance of the IPC in working on reviving functionality of the branches.
“The regions must focus on reviving branches to be functional so that as they are taken to conferences, they are really alive. The ANC provincial structure in the Free State has been dissolved by court as a result of branches that are not in good standing, among other things,” Khoabane said.
His statement follows a letter that was written by disgruntled ANC branch members from Mangaung Region dated 16 May 2022 and sent to party Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile, ANC NEC member Nomvula Mokonyane and Free State IPC coordinator Paseka Nompondo.
Among their grievances, the disgruntled members questioned the validity of the IPC, citing that it’s term of office expired in March 2022, according to a court order instructing the disbandment of the IPC last year.
However, during an interview with Africa News Global, Khoabane dispelled the branches concerns, saying that the IPC’s mandate given at the time was to focus on elections campaign, and the selection process of councillors and immediately thereafter, the focus had to be on constituting executives of the councils.
What a relief! Please there must be some serious actions taken. These things of conferences must wait first. Our branches are not in good standing. And the long period we waited with no branches has affected the communities also the good reputation of the ANC. Please everything that’s going to be implemented must be according to the guidelines of the constitutions from ANC Motherboard, WL & YL. In that manner it will also prepare us for 2024 & restoring back to the of the ANC. Anything unlawfully must be crashed! In fact everything must be thorough investigated so that it could attest the outcomes circumstances. There already damages & the Free State can’t stand more of them.