By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The ANC Free State 9th Provincial Conference at Imvelo Safari Lodge marred by chaotic scenes after delegates disrupted the registration process alleging that there were bogus delegates.
The chaotic scenes saw tables upturned and threats of taking the matter to court, leaving the conference hanging by the thread.
The police had to step in and stop delegates from entering the registration centre after the situation got out of control when delegates went on a rampage.
The conference was meant to resume on Friday following delays.
Addressing the media from the ANC’s Bloemfontein offices, the chairperson of the national executive committee deployed to the Free State, David Mahlobo, confirmed the party was aware the registration process was disrupted by disgruntled members.
“The road towards the conference has not been easy. We know that the structures have had to be constituted from scratch, starting from branches, regions, and now the province. The road has not been smooth.
“There has also been a confirmation that the registration process has been disrupted this morning; all these problems are being attended to,” said Mahlobo.
Complaints had also been raised about the delegates attending the conference.
Mahlobo said: “There are several claims of parallel branches in various regions and the question of the tampering of delegates who are supposed to attend the conference.”
He added that a credentials verification structure was put in place to work with the national leadership, and to attend to complaints regarding delegate selection.
The disgruntled party members from two regions, including Mangaung and Lejweleputswa, raised concerns about the manner in which the IPC dealt with matters arising from various branches.
A Mangaung parallel structure, which has been at loggerheads with the IPC, recently argued that 23 branches in Mangaung had issued disputes with the ANC’s provincial dispute resolution committee, but only 3 of them were called by the party’s upper structure – the IPC.
In December 2022, a large contingent of disgruntled ANC supporters protested outside the municipal offices of the Welkom-based Matjhabeng Local Municipality against the IPC.
They accused the ANC’s IPC and its convener, Mxolisi Dukwana, of endorsing irregularities, including the alleged rigging of the conference that was allegedly overlooked ahead of the Lejweleputswa 9th elective regional conference weeks ago.
The Free State ANC also recently become litigious with irate members dragging it to court over various issues, including the failure to hold conferences.
According to the tally from the branch nominations, Dukwana leads the pack, with 59 nominations, and is the only one who has met the required 20% threshold.
Those considered as his fierce opponents for the position received far fewer nominations, with former Mangaung mayor Thabo Manyoni receiving only 15 nominations and the current premier, Sisi Ntombela, receiving 37 nominations.
Despite not meeting the threshold, Ntombela and Manyoni may still be nominated from the floor.
No candidates met the threshold for the deputy chairperson position, while Paseka Nompondo, the current coordinator, leads the race for the provincial secretary position, with 67 nominations, and is set to battle it out with Polediso Motsoeneng, who received 49 nominations.
National chairperson Gwede Mantashe is expected to officially open the conference with President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to close it on Sunday.