By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@MyAnc.
The African National Congress (ANC) has slammed the recently leaked audio recordings from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) special meeting deliberations, which have thrust the growing tensions within the party into the spotlight yet again.
The audio recordings emerged on social media, particularly the clip of what has been speculated to be former President Thabo Mbeki.
In the one minute and 34 second clip, Mbeki could be heard summarising concerns expressed by another NEC member, who called for a two- or three-day retreat to discuss the question: “Do we still have any organisation called the ANC?”
“The ANC is concerned about the growing tendency of leaking internal discussions of the organization, including the implications of such practice.
“A case in point is the leaking of information to a digital media platform referred to as Insight Factor that has appointed itself to perform the task of giving ‘as it happens’ updates of the NEC.
“We are aware that they are supplied information by their own proxies to further a nefarious task of not only dividing the ANC, but also to drive a particular narrative that goes against the united spirit displayed by the meeting of the NEC currently underway, “ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said in a statement on Sunday, 9 May.
Mabe highlighted that the leaks were in violation of the ANC’s communication protocol, which states that “any member who leaks or releases information to the media or public without due authorisation or prior approval, shall be guilty of misconduct.”
Meanwhile ANC branches in the eThekwini region has pledged their support for the party’s secretary-general Ace Magashule and former president Jacob Zuma as the future of this camp hangs in the balance.
Members of the party gathered at the Durban Girls High School hall on Sunday to outline a detailed plan to support Magashule and Zuma as the branches believe that the ANC leaders, among others, were being targeted internally within the party.
Addressing the media, ANC eThekwini branches spokesperson Ntando Khuzwayo said the national executive committee (NEC) did not follow the right processes in regards to the party’s step asides guidelines.
“The NEC cannot willingly suspend or amend resolutions to suit its internal fights. The resolutions says that you must only suspend those who fail to give an explanation or voluntarily stepdown… and for that to happen there must be some organisational process that must be followed,” he said.
Khuzwayo indicated the NEC had also failed to properly consult its branches over the guidelines.