Durban: DIVISIONS within the ANC National Working Committee (NWC) could potentially save the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) from being disbanded amid concerns of poor performance in the recent elections.
Sources in KwaZulu-Natal with close ties to the PEC indicated that members believed their meeting with the ANC national structure, where they had to account for the election loss and the state of the party, had gone well.
A high-level meeting between the KZN PEC and the national structure was held on Monday, and it was anticipated that the KZN PEC would be dissolved following catastrophic election losses. However, the ANC announced that a decision on the matter had been deferred until next week.
The ANC is seeking accountability following a disappointing election performance. At national level, the party’s support dropped to around 40%, while in the province, it lost support to its breakaway party, the Umkhonto weSizwe Party.
A source who is close to PEC members told The Mercury that discussions with the NWC had saved the PEC. The source indicated that he had engaged with these leaders after their meeting.
“They (KZN ANC) believe that the meeting went well. There are two opposing groups within the NWC: one wants disbandment, while the stronger faction seeks to support them with resources.
“It seems like the PEC defeated in 2022 is behind the calls for disbandment. It is an ANC factional battle. Additionally, there are issues of Mbalula versus Lesufi in the battle for ANC presidency in 2027. KZN is backing Panyaza.”
Another source in the ANC mentioned that the NEC (National Executive Committee) would discuss the plan for the province and take a decision. “They (national leadership) gave the KZN PEC a hearing, and the decision will be announced next week.”
Attempts to get comments from the ANC were unsuccessful yesterday.
Speaking to the media outside the venue after the meeting, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said: “The NEC will take a decision about what must happen in KZN, which will also apply to the meeting with Gauteng.
“As to what needs to be done, there are various options, but the overall theme is reorganisation, reinforcement, and rebuilding of the ANC.
“Various options will be considered in terms of this overall theme. It could involve augmenting the PEC, disbanding it, or reorganising the entire structure in the province. This will be determined by the NWC and recommended to the NEC.
“We are going to reclaim KwaZulu-Natal, and we are going to make hard decisions that will rebuild the ANC. We are going to fix and build the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, and we will do it with the ferocity of a cornered bull, ensuring that we emerge from this situation with determination as a party and an organisation,” he said.
Mbalula added that there was a reason they visited these provinces. “Now that we have gone there, we have picked up insights informed by exactly what happened.” Political analyst Professor Musa Xulu said the ANC was in deep crisis and was reacting.
“The ANC NEC is currently in a state of panic and shock. In the process, they have decided to engage in the politics of scape-goating. Levels of trust may be very low.
“It seems that the national dialogue, which former president Thabo Mbeki had requested to be held, and which the president said would occur on December 16th, the Day of Reconciliation, has fallen off the radar,” said Xulu.