ANC in bid to quell North West strife

THE ANC national working committee is to meet leaders of the strife-torn North West in yet another attempt to quell factionalism.

The meeting, set for Sunday and Monday, may see senior party leaders including secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, his deputy Jessie Duarte, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane visiting branches to get first-hand information on the problems plaguing the province.

Senior ANC leaders have held several meetings with the provincial leadership to try and resolve factional fights between them - but this has yet to yield results.

The province continues to be plagued by internal wranglings borne primarily by factions aligned to suspended provincial secretary Kabelo Mataboge and chairman Supra Mahumapelo.

North West will be the second province to be visited by the NWC after Limpopo, where the leadership is expected to compile a report responding to issues raised by branch members during the visit.

Branch members have requested that their provincial leadership be disbanded.

Yesterday, Mantashe would neither confirm nor deny that the meeting would be held, while North West ANC spokesman Kenny Morolong did not respond to a text message inquiry.

However, an official in the provincial ANC office confirmed that the NWC was due to meet members of the provincial executive committee on Sunday and Monday.

Branch members, many of whom converged on Luthuli House to complain about parallel branch structures in the province and subsequently dragged the party to court before the Mangaung conference, were expected to convene a "cadre's forum" today.

Among the issues expected to be raised at the meeting is thereinstatement of Mataboge.