By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Eastern Cape African National Congress (ANC) elective conference hangs in the balance after an urgent court application was launched in a bid to halt the conference from going ahead.
Several party members have approached the courts in an attempt to interdict the conference, citing membership rigging, procedural irregularities and factional manipulation.
The urgent application will be heard in the East London High Court on Wednesday, 25 March 2026.
Applicants argues that the conference can’t go ahead when there are irregularities that still need to be attended to, such as convening of Branch General Meetings (BGMs) and the implementation of the step aside rule, which they believe is inconsistent.
Oscar Mabuyane seeks a third term as chairperson of the province. Lulama Ngcukayitobi is expected to contest Mabuyane.
However, the latter has also raised concerns about the conference proceeding without these matters being resolved.
During the briefing, the party’s secretary general Fikile Mbalula lashed out at those who took the party to court.
“We have got a whole conflict resolution in the party. These people who are reporting to you and who are raising disputes outside the processes don’t understand the ANC processes. They are just generating anarchy. They have been defeated and their disputes settled, so they are taking us to court – it’s frivolous. They are bringing the name of the organisation into disrepute,” said Mbalula.
He said the party’s national leadership has endorsed the PEC to move ahead with the elective conference.
“The ANC does not convene conferences for the sake of it. It is a political consolidation and policy advancement, and the upcoming Eastern Cape provincial congress will play a pivotal role in strengthening the movement.”
“We believe the ANC in the Eastern Cape have come a long way and the ANC at all times has received overwhelming support from the masses of our people in this province and that must be respected.”
“We must respect the people that gave us the power to govern this province and that must be displayed in our conduct,” he said.
Mbalula said the Eastern Cape does not have a history of elective conferences that degenerated and became violent because of factional battles.
He said the national chairperson of the ANC, Gwede Mantashe, will be in the Eastern Cape on Friday to officially open the conference and welcome delegates.
Meanwhile the ANC in Limpopo will host a media tour and site visit of the conference venue as part of final preparations for the 11th ANC Limpopo Provincial Conference.
The conference will take place from 27 to 29 March 2026.
Fullview understands that ANC structures in Limpopo have forged a “unity of convenience” slate that will see the top five positions go uncontested, allowing Dr Phophi Ramathuba to take the helm uncontested, replacing outgoing provincial chair Stanley Mathabatha.