Mashatile gives Madikizela faction a boost ahead of the Eastern Cape Provincial conference

 
The highly anticipated African National Congress (ANC) Eastern Cape conference is finally going ahead following internal issues which forced postponements starting today.
 
The province will elect its top five with the provincial convenor Oscar Mabuyane facing former ally Babalo Madikizela for the chairmanship with the latter tipped to be victorious.

The two, though on opposing sides, are in support of a second term for President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Madikizela was previously linked to Zweli Mkhize who is said to be gearing up to challenge Ramaphosa in December but has in the past week distanced himself, saying he supported the incumbent president.

Letters in possession of this publication, dated 4 May 2022, from Paul Mashatile Treasurer General clearing Teris Ntutu and Xolile Kompela, who are contesting secretary and deputy chair, have been reinstated.

Mashatile instructs the province to allow the two to participate in this weekend’s conference, move insiders say will boost the Madikezela slate.

He does warn Ntuntu, who could still face corruption charges soon, that the ANC will take action if it finds he misled the party.

The case relates to an R10 million black plastic bag tender in the Mnquma Municipality.
While Kompela was accused of defying the ANC and summarily suspended by the provincial executive of the party.

The pair are part of Babalo Madikizela’s slate, which has been tipped to emerge victoriously.

This is after the provincial task team (PTT) coordinator, Lulama Ngcukaitobi, requested an urgent meeting to address some concerns around the state of readiness for the internal contest.

National leaders were in no mood for long debates over whether or not the Eastern Cape was ready for a conference, this after at least four previous postponements.

It is also understood that suggestions to only include provincial officials in the meeting were also dismissed, with Mashatile extending an invite to the entire PTT.

The province has met the threshold, even as some disputes over the status of some branches still lingered.
 
With 1500 delegates attending the conference both camps have numbers.

Themed #BuyaMabuyane22 the campaign is led by Oscar, Lulama Ngcukayitobi, Helen August, Mlungisi Voko, and Nanziwe Rulashe.
 

Babalwa Madikizela’s slate has Teris Ntutu, Xolile Kompela, Weziwe Tikana, and Andile Lungisa.
 
With Eastern Cape the second biggest province after Kwazulu Natal the winner will have a huge impact on the national conference.
 
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