Dissolution of Dullah Omar region a big headache for ANC

Cape Town - The ANC is forging ahead with trying to get its house in order following the dissolution of their biggest region in the Western Cape, the Dullah Omar Region (DOR).

The party’s interim provincial committee (IPC) dissolved the region after it failed to prove its readiness to hold its regional conference in March. Senior politician and MP Richard Dyantyi is tasked to lead the region as it prepares to elect leaders who will participate in the provincial conference then later a national conference.

The head of organisers in the province, Mvusi Mvala, is the co-ordinator of the team.

Provincial spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni said: “There is a national deadline for regions to go to (the) conference. What the province then did, instead of appointing a new task team, (it decided that) there would be an IPC-led process.”

Other notable members of the team include the leader in the provincial legislature, Cameron Dugmore, ANCYL convenor Nonceba Mhlauli, and Mtsweni.

Dugmore is expected to oversee the work of the ANC caucus in council. “The city caucus has always fallen under the office of province,” said Mtsweni. “We have always had an angle as it relates to matters of the city council.”

Mtsweni is convinced that the region under their leadership will meet deadlines. He called for branches to work towards the regional conference.

“Our interest is that the comrades in Dullah Omar must have elected leadership. We want everyone to have a fair process; ultimately we want comrades to ensure that BGMs (branch general meetings) sit successfully so that they can go to regional the conference and elect the leaders of their choice.”

All those who are rumoured to be interested in leading the region have remained mum when asked for comments. They all said the decision lies with the branches.

Current ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa is tipped to secure a second term come the party’s national elective conference.

Political lecturer and analyst Dr Trust Matsile Matsilele said the dissolution of the region was a move by the president’s aligned faction.

“The faction aligned to the president is consolidating power by all and every means. This move, barring merits of the matter, further entrenches perceptions that the dominant faction is playing every trick in the book to ensure the free sailing of the president for the second term.”

He added that as things stood, Ramaphosa might win with even a bigger margin compared to the last elective conference.

“What we effectively have is a president set to retain the presidency in the party internal contest this December, and if nothing drastically change even if contested, his margin of victory will be much bigger than last time where he won with a handful of votes.”

Weekend Argus