By Simona Nare
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that the fate of the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Committees (PECs) will be determined on Sunday as the National Executive Committee (NEC) convenes for its second day at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Mbalula said that the NEC would deliberate on the national working committee’s (NWC) report regarding the future of the two provinces following their disappointing performance in the recent national elections.
“We are convening this special NEC meeting, as previously indicated last year when we addressed issues concerning Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The NEC will receive and deliberate on the NWC’s report. We have engaged extensively with the ANC branches and regions in both provinces before and after the elections,” Mbalula said.
He further said that subsequent to their initial engagements, the ANC leadership held further discussions with the PECs, sharing insights gathered from interactions with grassroots structures.
“In light of these interactions, the NWC has consolidated three options concerning the party’s approach to the challenges in these provinces,” Mbalula said.
“The first option is to maintain the status quo without changes. The second option involves reinforcing and consolidating existing structures. The third option is the dissolution of the current structures and starting afresh.”
Mbalula said that all three options would be presented for consideration during the current NEC meeting in Boksburg, stressing that disbandment was just one among several possibilities.
“We are here today to present the NWC’s findings and options to the NEC for decision-making. Tomorrow [Sunday], we will conclude these discussions and communicate the outcomes to our provincial structures before making them public,” Mbalula said.
He also pointed out the significance of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, noting the ANC’s shrinking support in these key provinces, where it garnered only 17% and 35% of the vote, respectively.
“While we do not intend to assign blame, the NEC is fulfilling its constitutional mandate to address our party’s challenges,” Mbalula clarified.
“Our focus remains on revitalizing support across all provinces, including those where we no longer hold power.”
Nationally, the ANC lost the majority support and was forced to govern with other parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Mbalula said the party was still reeling from the loss of the Western Cape where it has for the past elections struggled to regain power and the party was trying to avoid that happening in the two economically crucial provinces.
“We are particularly mindful of our historical struggle to regain power in the Western Cape and are determined to avoid a similar situation in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal,” Mbalula said.
“Decisive leadership is crucial in guiding our party through these challenging times.”
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