By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) is launching its election manifesto in Duduza, Ekurhuleni.
The party was formed in 1959 by the late Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe.
Another former PAC president Motsoko Pheko was in attendance in Duduza ahead of the manifesto launch by party leader Mzwanele Nyhontso.
Nyhontso said that under its government, no public entities will degenerate.
Despite its early political gains and the marks it has made in South African history, which includes organising the 1960 march against pass laws imposed by the apartheid government,the PAC has been gripped by infighting and leadership squabbles.
The separate congresses were held despite an agreement between the two factions to have a joint leadership with Narius Moloto as president and Nyhontso as deputy president. The unity leadership organised an elective congress for 29 and 30 August.
But the unity fell off when Moloto invoked Clause 14.2 of the PAC Disciplinary code and disbanded the NEC. The NEC secretary-general Apa Pooe applied in court for Moloto’s action to be set aside and succeeded as it was granted by judge A.J. Millar, which Moloto appealed.
Moloto organised another elective congress for 24 and 25 August 2019 that elected him as president. However, the congress scheduled for end of August went ahead and elected Nyhontso as president while Moloto’s appeal was found to be defective.
The court directed the Electoral Commission of South Africa to allow Nyhontso through the application to participate in the 2021 local government elections. Both Moloto and the IEC were ordered to pay for the cost of application.
Former PAC leader Letlapa Mphahlele said he was fully behind the PAC to do better in the elections as it had battled leadership squabbles and divisions.
Mphahlele said the manifesto launch on Saturday in Ekurhuleni should serve as a reminder to members that they want to revive the party.
He said the PAC has a national footprint as it will contest the elections in all provinces and major cities and metros.
Meanwhile, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) is launching its manifesto in Mthatha, Eastern Cape. The party says its primary goal and election premise is to “put the people first” as part of the long-term strategy to transform South Africa into a Winning Nation – starting at local government.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is expected to launch their mainfesto in Mthatha at 2pm.
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) is also launching its election manifesto in Johannesburg later today.