By Simon Nare
The ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) has decided against disbanding the provincial executive committees (PEC) in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, opting instead to reconfigure them, three sources from the meeting told Inside Politics on Sunday night.
Details of the reconfiguration are expected to be outlined by the ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula at a media briefing scheduled for Monday.
An ANC NEC insider said there were intense debates, largely along factional lines, about whether to disband the committees, but this proposal was ultimately rejected.
Instead, the NEC agreed to deploy senior members to strengthen the existing PECs.
In the past, provinces such as Limpopo, Western Cape, North West, and the Free State were hit with disbandment.
Another ANC NEC member told Inside Politics that while disbandment was seriously considered, the focus shifted to reinforcing the PECs in order to address organisational challenges without creating further instability.
The member said that reinforcement meant that some ANC NEC members will be deployed in the two provinces to help the provincial structures run the affairs of the organisation.
“No, there is no disbandment. They wanted disbandment but they were defeated. The outcome (of the discussions) was that let us reconfigure and not disband,” according to ANC NEC member who spoke on condition of anonymity.
According to the NEC member, specific Gauteng and KZN ANC PEC members will be redeployed from their current positions to other roles within the two PECs.
Their vacancies will be filled by new appointees from within the existing PECs.
“For instance, Panyaza Lesufi may be transferred from his role as Gauteng Premier while retaining his Chairperson position, with another PEC member taking over as Premier,” the NEC member said.
“Similarly, comrades like MEC of Finance and Economic Development Lebogang Maile, who is also ANC Gauteng elections head, could be reassigned, with a replacement chosen from within the PEC.”
A similar process will unfold in KZN, focusing on reconfiguration of the PEC, and making new appointments to strategic positions.
“Traditionally, issues with leadership were to be addressed at conferences for democratic decisions. However, the current ANC leadership’s strategic reasons appear to alter this process,” the NEC member told Inside Politics.
“This decision may lead to dissent among branches and members of the ANC who oppose the imposed changes. Poor management could result in significant setbacks for the organisation. The branches are responsible for establishing these structures, yet the ANC’s NEC now acts against the majority’s will or the elective process conducted during the conference.”
INSIDE POLITICS
