By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former ANC KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Sihle Zikalala has failed to make it into the provincial executive committee (PEC) elected at the conference at the weekend.
Zikalala accepted a nomination as an additional member of the structure on Sunday after losing the chair position to Sboniso Duma by more than 200 votes.
After availing himself, the results showed he failed to make the cut, being the only one from his slate who could not make the additional PEC members list.
Mdumiseni Ntuli, the outgoing provincial secretary-general made the cut into the PEC together with Jomo Sibiya, Kwazi Mshengu and Nontembeko Boyce, who contested for treasurer, deputy chair and deputy provincial secretary respectively.
Former spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela made it back into the PEC, and eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda also made the cut.
The ANC KwaZulu-Natal PEC are: Peggy Nkonyeni, Mdumiseni Ntuli, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Nonhlanhla Khoza, Nhlakanipho Ntombela, Super Zuma, Nomakiki Majola, Nobuhle Nkabane, Bheki Ntuli, Nolubabalo Mthembu, Ndodephethe Mthethwa, Sizophila Mkhize, Mafika Mndebele, Khonza Ngidi, Jomo Sibiya, Celiwe Madlopha, Sbongile Khathi, Nontembeko Boyce, Makhosi Zungu, Londolo Zungu, Vincent Madoda “Masenti” Myeni, Kwazi Mshengu, Mxolisi Kaunda, Mbali Frazer, Bongi Moloi, Amanda Bani, Mzi Zuma, Zinhle Cele and Tholi Gwala.
This means Zikalala becomes the only one from his slate not to make it into the PEC. He also faces the risk of being recalled as premier of the province.
Meanwhile the newly elected leadership of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has called for the scrapping of the governing party’s step-side resolution.
Speaking at the conclusion of the three-day ANC KZN conference in Durban on Sunday, newly elected provincial secretary-general Bheki Mtolo said the province adopted a position that the step-aside rule should not only be reviewed but scrapped entirely.
“The conference resolved that delegates to the national policy conference must forward a complete proposal that the step-aside [resolution] must not only be reviewed but must be scrapped, “said Mtolo.
The controversial step-aside resolution was adopted in 2017 by the ANC at its national Nasrec conference.
The rule calls for party members who have been criminally charged or face serious charges to step aside pending the finalisation of their cases.
He said the province would push for the resolution to be repealed at the ANC’s upcoming policy conference at the end of July.