By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The East London High Court has ruled that African National Congress (ANC) elective conference in the Eastern Cape be postponed until internal disputes have been resolved.
Several party members have approached the courts to interdict the elective conference, citing membership rigging, procedural irregularities and factional manipulation.
The urgent application was heard in the East London High Court on Wednesday, 25 March 2026 and judgement was reserved.
The applicants challenged the verification report’s claim that 535 of 554 branches had qualified, surpassing the 70% threshold needed to proceed. They argued that no preliminary verification report was issued, as required by ANC guidelines.
They further allege that the figures in verification report were inconsistent with regional reports.
Oscar Mabuyane seeks a third term as chairperson of the province. Lulama Ngcukayitobi is expected to contest Mabuyane.
The conference was expected to resume on the 26 to 29 March at the East London International Convention Centre.
Acting Judge Babalo Metu directed the ANC and other respondents to comply with the party’s governance instruments, including conference guidelines and its Constitution.
The ANC were ordered to pay the costs.
ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member Mmamoloko Kubayi said the party is going to appeal the ruling, arguing that it is irrational.
Kubayi said the ANC intended to file supplementary documents in line with the court process in an effort to allow the conference to proceed.
“We intend to continue with the conference. That’s why we want to return with supplementary documentation, as requested by the judge, and ensure that we are able to comply,” she said.
One of the applicants, Lwazi Rotya described the court’s decision as a victory for members who had raised concerns about irregularities.
“There is no way that you convene a conference with a lot of complaints that are not resolved,” Rotya said.
He said the verification report was released only days before the conference, leaving branches unable to exhaust the ANC’s internal appeals structures, including the PDRC, NDRC and NDRCA.
The conference, which was expected to elect new provincial leadership, now hangs in the balance pending the outcome of the appeal and the resolution of internal disputes.