Despite welcoming the reconfiguration decision by ANC national, Gauteng ANC chairperson Panyaza Lesufi told some of the PEC members who want them out of office that their efforts were a waste of time because they are not going anywhere.
Last month, the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved to reconfigure Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) structures following their poor performance in the May 29, 2024, national and provincial elections.
Gauteng got 35% while KZN received 17% electoral support. The mother body got 40% overall.
Speaking at the ANC’s 113th-anniversary celebrations in Alexandra on Sunday, Lesufi welcomed the decision and said they will be guided by the national office on the matter.
He also admitted that they failed to win the elections outright.
However, Lesufi stated that they would not be bulldozed by people who wanted them out because of their own agenda.
Lesufi accused some of the PEC members of working tirelessly to disband the Gauteng structure.
He even said some of them were no longer attending provincial meetings since the reconfiguration was announced.
"We must indicate this; ever since the national leadership announced its intention to intervene, some of our leaders have stopped attending PEC meetings, have stopped their deployments, and are not even here in this rally because they are crossing their fingers that all of us must be removed," he said.
He preached unity in his address so that the ANC could maintain its relevance in society. He further called on members to commit themselves to the party's renewal agenda.
"We must send one strong message; we are not going anywhere. Even those that hate us in the ANC, you do whatever you want to do, we are not going anywhere, we will defend the ANC. We are not going anywhere," he maintained.
Lesufi said Gauteng will fight to ensure that the ANC returns to its former glory.
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