The Ngci camp was defeated once more and also popular Ermelo cadre, Bongani Phakathi didn’t make it.
ANC provincial secretary Muzi Chirwa’s Gert Sibande camp delivered a clean sweep at the regional conference, taking all Top 5 and all additional member positions in their wrecking-ball defeat of the Ngci camp.
His ally, district mayor Walter Mngomezulu defeated ex-Mkhondo mayor Vusi ‘Sgemegeme’ Motha for the post of regional chairperson.
Delegates dumped Sgemegeme, a known rival of Chirwa, at the eleventh hour when voting for additional members began while the Nhlabathi brothers – Khulani and Mdavu were also left by the wayside.
The conference was a two-way race between Chirwa’s Focus camp and deputy president David Mabuza’s Ngci camp led by Sgemegeme in the Gert Sibande region.
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Sgemegeme’s Ngci camp wanted Khulani as secretary, Zakes Masilela as his deputy and treasurer Thuba Dakile.
But they were all defeated when Mngomezulu emerged as the new chair, Muzi Manyathi as his deputy, Lindi Masina as the secretary and Trevor Nkosi as her deputy and Aubrey Maboea as treasurer.
Mdavu Nhlabathi who was defeated at the provincial conference for the position of deputy chairperson had wanted to try his luck in the Gert Sibande REC but failed to make it yet again.
None of the Ngci camp’s leaders made it even as additional members, including Ermelo’s popular ANC man Bongani Phakathi who was aligned to Chirwa’s Focus camp.
Sources alleged that the former REC member’s failure to emerge was due to him not seeing eye to eye with Chirwa of late but Phakathi himself said it was due to his inability to attend the conference in Badplaas as he was burying his son who passed away.
Sources say Phakathi had eyed a position as PEC member at the party’s 13th provincial conference on 1 April 2022 in Witbank but failed to get it.
“Leaders come and go and it’s unfortunate I couldn’t attend conference,” he said over a WhatsApp message Sunday night 10 April 2022.
The ANCYL’s Thulasizwe Thomo, an ally of Chirwa, was voted the first member of the REC, and Chirwa’s wife, Alice, as the second.
Controversial Govan Mbeki councillor Thandi Ngxonono was voted the third member and former spokesman Sabelo Sikhakhane voted in fourth place with Chief Albert Luthuli mayor Dan Nkosi in fifth place. Others who were elected as additional members are –
– Lindiwe Sidu
– Zodwa Nkosi
– Fikile Nyembe
– Gebe Shabalala
– Thembi Khumalo
– Thembisile Motloung
– Vusi Nkosi
– Pretty Sibeko
– Zandile Yende
– Juliet Khumalo
– Bafana Ndinisa
– Jeffrey Msimango
– Joanah Ndlovu
– BG Rose
– Stephen Nhlapo
In Ehlanzeni region the Focus camp delivered yet another deafening blow to the Ngci group, making a clean sweep with Jackie Macie defeating Bushbuckridge strongman Gillion Mashego for the post of regional chairperson.
The Ngci camp in Ehlanzeni had wanted Mashego as chair, suspended ANC leader Ngrayi Ngwenya as deputy chair, Phazamisa Mathe as secretary, Bhunu Malandule as deputy secretary and Phumzile Mashego as treasurer.
As Ngwenya was unavailable due to his suspension, former treasurer Momotho Thumbathi was nominated from floor for the post of deputy chair but was defeated by legislature speaker Makhosazane Masilela.
The Focus camp’s Macie took the chair position, Makhosazane Masilela (deputy chair), Folus Sibuyi (secretary), William Nkatha (deputy secretary) and Morris Mazibane (treasurer).
(edited by ZK)
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