ANC leaders had to call back and mollify angry branch members before a meeting to nominate candidates for ward councillor could take place last weekend.
ANC leaders had to call back and mollify angry branch members before a meeting to nominate candidates for ward councillor could take place last weekend.
The rank-and-file of the ANC's Vuyo Moleli branch walked out before its annual general meeting at the Benjamin Mahlasela High School on Saturday, complaining that leaders were showing a lack of respect.
They had waited two hours while ANC leaders, including councillor Julia Wells, caucused in a corner of the school's corridor. Furious, and mumbling about what they considered a lack of respect, the members headed for the door.
“We are leaving because we have commitments at our homes and we think these people [leaders]should have had their caucus before they came to us,” said one disgruntled member. “We are leaving because these people do not respect us, all they want is our votes,” muttered another.
They had sung liberation songs and toyi-toyied for two hours before they decided enough was enough. But when leaders saw them heading for the door, they quickly adjourned their caucus and tried to shepherd them back.
Branch chairperson Theo Mnyanda told the crowd that the meeting was postponed to the following day, because they wanted to “have a look” at the membership list. “We have postponed this meeting because we did not have time to look at the membership list and we also did not have a chance to see the constituency,” said Mnyanda.
The meeting eventually took place on Sunday and ANC candidates for ward councillor and Proportional Representation were elected. Leading the candidates' list for ward councillors was Mncedisi Gojela, with 50 votes, followed by Thozama Yantolo, 27 votes, Mbuyiseli Bojo, 22 votes and Siphokazi Tana, with eight.
For the Proportional Representation list, the following names were nominated: Paul Notyhawa, Luyanda Sakata, Phumelelo Kate, Theo Fulani, Rachel Madinda and Thembisa Balakisi.
