THE African National Congress (ANC) Women’s League Gauteng conference in Gauteng ended in chaos last night, with delegates still disagreeing over credentials.
ANC Gauteng provincial executive committee member and spokesman, Nkenke Kekana, said the provincial leadership was "disappointed" at the outcome. The conference may be reconvened next week to elect new leadership.
According to sources those supporting Mr Zuma attempted to prevent a change of leadership in the women's league in the province.
On Friday, ANC Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile was heckled and booed by delegates of a provincial ANC Women’s League conference in Irene, as he tried to address them on leadership issues ahead of the launch of the ruling party’s official nomination process today.
Mr Mashatile has been vocal about the need for an overhaul of the ANC leadership — to be decided at the party’s 53rd national conference in Mangaung in December — and it is understood that the Gauteng provincial chapter, under his leadership, is opposed to a second term for incumbent President Jacob Zuma in the party’s top job.
The women’s league has made no secret of its support for Mr Zuma, nor have members hidden animosity towards those who oppose them.
Mr Mashatile was chased out of the room when he entered and took a seat on stage before proceedings kicked off. When he returned, the league’s provincial chairwoman, Pat Chueu, called for discipline.
Taking the podium, Mr Mashatile echoed calls for unity, warning that failure to unify the party would open a gap for the Democratic Alliance. Contestation did not imply disunity.
"It’s how you do it that could become a problem. Character assassination, insults, campaigning using wrong methods, these things must end. He condemned the use of "slates", as this "winner takes all approach" had no place in the ANC.
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