Poor discipline costs the province dearly

JOHANNESBURG – African National Congress (ANC) national chairman Gwede Mantashe said decisions by the party’s Free State leaders will always be challenged in court because provincial members are undisciplined.

This comes after registration for the ninth provincial elective conference in Bloemfontein was temporarily halted on Friday, after a group of party members disrupted the process.

Delegates are expected to choose their new leaders after several postponements last year due to legal disputes.

The Free State, along with the Western Cape, were the only two unable to convene their conferences ahead of the party’s national conference last month.

The numerous delays in the province have been attributed to conflicts between branches that were still loyal to former Free State leader Ace Magashule and branches that advocate the party’s renewal agenda.

Mantashe said that systems must be put in place to restore order in the provincial structures.

“We must keep our eyes open. This province is very important. Nobody talks about it because the province itself has undermined itself and minimized its role. This can be done by comrades by putting in place systems, processes and resources to combat any sign of these risks that I have listed”.

By meeting here as delegates to the 09 #ANCFS Conference, an agreement on organizational matters should be sought. The culture of strikes when we disagree is another culture that we must overcome. Comrades must get used to relating to each other. pic.twitter.com/FXQuG1J5xS

Gwede Mantashe (@GwedeMantashe1) January 21, 2023

Mantashe also urged ANC members in the province to elect the people who will move the province forward.

“You must elect a Free State leader who will drive the Free State revitalization agenda, please. Regardless of factions.”