The ANC has withdrawn its bid to challenge a court ruling that halted its 10th provincial elective conference in the Eastern Cape.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
The African National Congress (ANC) has dropped its plan to appeal a court decision that stopped its 10th elective conference in the Eastern Cape.
The provincial conference was disrupted last month after the Eastern Cape High Court ruled in favour of an application to halt it.
A group of ANC members had gone to court to stop the conference, saying there were alleged irregularities.
The party had planned to challenge the ruling, but has now confirmed that it has withdrawn its appeal.
“The ANC confirms that the movement, together with the secretary general, Cde Fikile Mbalula, in their respective capacities as the second and third respondents, have today formally withdrawn the application for leave to appeal the interim order of the honourable court.”
“The notice of withdrawal has been duly served on all relevant parties, and filed with the registrar of the East London Circuit Court of the Eastern Cape Division,” ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bengu said in a statement on Wednesday.
She said the withdrawal follows the receipt of the learned judge’s formal reasons for the interim order, and was taken on the considered advice of the party’s legal team.
“We are satisfied that the issues raised in this matter are more substantively addressed through the other procedural avenues available to us before the Honourable Court.”
“These avenues will enable the ANC to demonstrate, on a full evidentiary footing, that the movement has adhered to the order of the court, and that the membership records and administrative processes of the ANC in the Eastern Cape are sound and consistent with the Constitution of the African National Congress and the governing instruments of the movement.”
She said the party reaffirms its respect for the judicial authority of the courts of the Republic.
“The convening of the Provincial Elective Conference of the Eastern Cape will be undertaken in accordance with the ANC Constitution and consistent with the directions of our courts of law.”
Meanwhile, speaking on the sidelines of the secretary-general’s visit to KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane said the party’s provincial structure will remain in place until a conference is convened.
“The Eastern Cape matter, there’s a PEC, fully functional. Let me teach you how the ANC functions. You don't disband the PEC until the credentials in the conference are adopted.”
“So the conference has not sat in the Eastern Cape, so you got a fully functional PEC that it’s doing its work and there is no crisis for now,” she said.
IOL Politics