Mpumalanga’s 13th conference will take place on 27 March 2020.
The campaign of acting chairman Mandla Ndlovu and Gert Sibande ANC leader Muzi Chirwa is going to eMalahleni’s Ackerville stadium the coming weekend, with lobbyists saying they expect 15 000 ANC comrades will fill the Witbank township sports ground.
The event will be addressed by Ndlovu himself and will take place on Saturday 22 February 2020, where all of NdlovuChirwa supporters will gather and declare their support for Ndlovu to be the provincial chair and Chirwa the secretary.
Lobbyists say buses from all over Mpumalanga will transport scores to the #Focus campaign, before BGMs begin in a few weeks’ time in what will be their first provincial gathering since campaigns began a year ago.
Ndlovu plans to face off with Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane when the Mpumalanga ANC finally convenes an elective conference to elect deputy president DD Mabuza’s successor.
The conference is planned for 27 March 2020.
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Lobbyists say they want Ndlovu to touch on the “current state of the ANC”, where it comes from and a way forward”.
“The ANC is in tatters as we speak and we believe only a humble leader like Ndlovu can give leadership towards revival and restoration,” one of the lobbyists said when they spoke to 013NEWS reporter.
“It must address the issues of collapsing municipalities due to the corruption of our own comrades, issues of service delivery, rising unemployment and issues of economic transformation,” he said.
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Nkangala leader Speedy Mashilo who is mentioned as deputy chairman on the NdlovuChirwa slate is an instrumental organiser of the event – being hosted by his region.
The camp is opposed to deputy president DD Mabuza’s favoured candidate Tsipane – who he wants as ANC chairperson, saying Mabuza has no right to impose a candidate for them.
“He must concentrate nationally and we will support him as deputy president, not when he wants to ensure by hook or crook that his friends lead the Mpumalanga ANC. How about these capable leaders who have grown up in ANC structures all these years and how about the views of membership on who should be candidate?” the lobbyists said.
The campaigners also want acting secretary Lindiwe Ntshalintshali to retain her post of deputy secretary while Pienaar strongman Mandla Msibi becomes treasurer.
They are set to contest with the Tsipane slate – comprised of provincial treasurer Vusi Shongwe as deputy chair, PEC member Pat Ngomane as secretary, spokeswoman Sasekani Manzini as deputy secretary and Ermelo’s influential leader Sibusiso ‘The Great’ Sgudla as treasurer.
(edited by MLM)
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