ANC not ruling out KZN PEC disbandment - Mbalula

Secretary General Fikile Mbalula confirmed the possibility following a meeting with the party's National Working Committee and KZN PEC in Boksburg. 

The meeting comes in the wake of the party’s performance in the May general elections. 

The ANC had a poor showing in the May elections, failing to secure a national majority and falling below the 50% mark for the first time. 

In KZN, the party's support fell to 17%  - mainly due to the rise of former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party

This led to calls for the dissolution of provincial leadership structures.  

Mbalula says various options are being considered, but disbanding the PEC remains possible, if necessary.

"We went to KZN, we visited Gauteng because we have lost ground in a big way, and then we have done the work of the NWC and we need to report now to the NEC  about what needs to be done in KZN as well as in Gauteng. 

“So that's what we're going to do. This meeting was not called to disband or to announce a decision of intervention. It was to finalise our work.   

“The final decision will be made by the party’s national executive committee at its last meeting of the year in two weeks," said Mbalula. 

"Disbandment can be taken if it has to be taken to intervene in response to that situation there, and then it's part of the options that we'll look at when we meet next week before the NEC meeting, and one option we agree to we'll table it to the  NEC, and then we implement as lead to the next conference.”

He also responded to comments by KZN secretary Bheki Mtolo, who publicly blamed the party’s president and secretary-general for the poor electoral performance.

Mtolo believes the ANC's National Executive Committee, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, should equally take responsibility for the dismal showing at the polls. 

"Let me explain to you if anyone wants to disband the NEC there are constitutional procedures. If they want to do so, sign a petition or do whatever that you can and then the NEC will deal with that," said Mbalula.

Mbalula said the ANC leadership is focused on stabilising the organisation.

"We are going to a General Council. Others want to define it as a battleground for the soul of the NEC. We are not concerned about that. 

“We want the NEC to be healthy, fit and proper to fight the local government elections. So that includes reorganising ourselves in these provinces and the situation in these provinces is dire from an organisational point of view and we have said that we need to build," said Mbalula.

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