Disgruntled members of Northern Cape ANC branches have accused the ruling party of using them as a voting cattle while trampling on their rights to choose who must lead in their communities.
On Friday the members from different branches of the Francis Baard region staged a picket outside St Georges Hotel in Irene‚ where the African National Congress is currently holding its national list conference.
The party’s list process has been fiercely contested across the country as preparations are afoot to select those who will represent it in municipalities after the August 3 local elections.
Kagiso Makhubung from Ward 3 said the regional and provincial leadership had manipulated the list and replaced their ward candidates with people who were not wanted by their ward.
“There are protests in our communities as we speak and we came here to make it clear that we are not going to accept candidates we did not elect‚” said Makhubung.
They accused ANC provincial secretary Soul Zamane of masterminding the manipulation of the list.
Some picketers carried placards saying‚ “Zamane Must Fall“‚ “Francis Baard list not democratic” and some carrying ANC flags.
Llewellyn Volkwyn from Ward 27 said the ANC leadership in the region was taking them for a ride.
“They think the ANC belongs to them and that we are just their voting cattle.
“They never come to our wards and branches to look into our issues and challenges but they are quick to come and impose councillors for us during elections‚” Volkwyn said.
Christopher Korkie said the ANC had lost a previous election in the ward as its traditional supporters voted opposition parties in protest against the imposition of ward candidates by leaders.
“Our ward is under the DA now because of their greed.
“We lost the last election because of them because the people are not happy with the people that are being imposed on the ward.”
Korkie said they would not allow the ANC to repeat the same thing again in the upcoming local elections.
“We don’t want to lose the election to DA‚ not this time.
“We can’t live under the DA shadow for the next five years‚” Korkie said.
The leaders of the protesters were eventually allowed inside the venue where they wanted to register their displeasure with the national list appeals committee.
You ignore us until election time‚ ANC region tells leadership
Disgruntled members of Northern Cape ANC branches have accused the ruling party of using them as a voting cattle while trampling on their rights to choose who must lead in their communities.
On Friday the members from different branches of the Francis Baard region staged a picket outside St Georges Hotel in Irene‚ where the African National Congress is currently holding its national list conference.
The party’s list process has been fiercely contested across the country as preparations are afoot to select those who will represent it in municipalities after the August 3 local elections.
Kagiso Makhubung from Ward 3 said the regional and provincial leadership had manipulated the list and replaced their ward candidates with people who were not wanted by their ward.
“There are protests in our communities as we speak and we came here to make it clear that we are not going to accept candidates we did not elect‚” said Makhubung.
They accused ANC provincial secretary Soul Zamane of masterminding the manipulation of the list.
Some picketers carried placards saying‚ “Zamane Must Fall“‚ “Francis Baard list not democratic” and some carrying ANC flags.
Llewellyn Volkwyn from Ward 27 said the ANC leadership in the region was taking them for a ride.
“They think the ANC belongs to them and that we are just their voting cattle.
“They never come to our wards and branches to look into our issues and challenges but they are quick to come and impose councillors for us during elections‚” Volkwyn said.
Christopher Korkie said the ANC had lost a previous election in the ward as its traditional supporters voted opposition parties in protest against the imposition of ward candidates by leaders.
“Our ward is under the DA now because of their greed.
“We lost the last election because of them because the people are not happy with the people that are being imposed on the ward.”
Korkie said they would not allow the ANC to repeat the same thing again in the upcoming local elections.
“We don’t want to lose the election to DA‚ not this time.
“We can’t live under the DA shadow for the next five years‚” Korkie said.
The leaders of the protesters were eventually allowed inside the venue where they wanted to register their displeasure with the national list appeals committee.
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