African National Congress (ANC) chairperson in Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi says he will gladly step aside should the party’s reconfiguration resolutions require him to do so.
This comes as ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula confirmed that the party’s national executive committee (NEC) opted to reconfigure its leadership in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal following a major electoral decline in the 2024 national and provincial elections. Reconfiguration includes both dissolution and reinforcement.
WHAT DOES ANC RECONFIGURATION MEAN FOR PANYAZA LESUFI?
During a briefing on Monday, Mbalula said the electoral losses the party suffered in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng required immediate action as the two provinces were not only the most populous are economic hubs of the country.
Mbalula said there were extensive debates on the action that needs to be taken to strengthen the ANC in the two provinces and the NEC agreed that not taking an action was not an option.
“There were extensive discussions on the issue of the dissolution of the PECs or how best they can be strengthened. The NEC agreed that the overriding objective is how the ANC can be strengthened and rebuilt in the two provinces.
“In strengthening the ANC, the NEC agreed that whatever action that would be taken should be based on key principles,” Mbalula said.
On Tuesday, Lesufi told Radio 702 that the reconfiguration require him to step aside he would be the first one to accept and inform the branches.
“We are not a federal party, we are a party that is led by national leaders and if national leadership feels that fresh ideas and fresh people are needed, we’ll be the first one to accept and welcome that.
“I am glad that we are being involved with the NEC ourselves. We listened to what people were saying about our province. It’s good to know that there are no people sitting in a corner and you’re closed out and they are speaking about you,” he said.
MBALULA SLAPS GAG ORDER ON ANC MEMBERS AHEAD OF RECONFIGURATION
Meanwhile, Mbalula has instructed all ANC members including spokespersons not to make any pronouncements regarding the reconfiguration in KZN and Gauteng.
“The secretary-general of the ANC is the only person mandated to speak on the NEC decisions with regards to the provinces of KZN and Gauteng, until next week when the matter will be finalised by both the national officials and the NWC as per the NEC decision,” Mbalula said.
DO YOU THINK PANYAZA LESUFI’S POSITION IS SAFE AS ANC IS SET TO RECONFIGURE ITS KZN AND GAUTENG PECs?
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