ANC in KwaZulu-Natal calls for action against dual membership
Delegates attend the 5th ANC National General Council in Boksburg.
Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL Politics
The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal has called on the National General Council (NGC) to take a decisive stance against dual membership, signalling growing tensions with the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).
The NGC commenced on Monday with President Cyril Ramaphosa presenting a political overview report, followed by an organisational report from Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.
On Tuesday, nearly 2,000 delegates from across the nation gathered at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, ready to divide into commissions for in-depth policy discussions.
As discussions began, ANC provincial spokesperson Fanle Sibisi revealed that KwaZulu-Natal intends to lead the charge against dual membership.
This move stems from the SACP's recent announcement to contest the ANC in the upcoming local government elections while maintaining its alliance within the Tripartite Alliance. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s continued membership in the ANC has further complicating this issue.
"This was part of our Provincial General Council’s resolutions, and we are determined to lead it in the commissions. It's not a new policy proposal since it is in our party’s constitution that any member who decides to contest the ANC cannot do so while a member of the party. Such members automatically expel themselves from the movement," said Sibisi.
The ANC Youth League has echoed this sentiment, demanding that SACP members withdraw from government roles.
The league's president, Colleen Malatji, said the dual membership was fine when the SACP and the ANC were in alliance, and since the SACP resolved to contest the ANC, they must cease to be ANC members.
"As the ANC Youth League, we are saying they must choose whether they want to be with the ANC or the SACP. Those who are deployed by the ANC must be withdrawn because they are no longer representing our policies. You can't be in ANC's deployment while you are anti-ANC," said Malatji.
While the SACP has publicly stated its intention to contest the ANC, insiders believe that the KwaZulu-Natal ANC’s primary focus is the MKP.
Dual membership has reportedly disrupted efforts by the ANC Provincial Task Team to revitalise its branches, particularly in eThekwini and Moses Mabhida (Pietermaritzburg).
Regional leaders have expressed concern that their branch meetings are being infiltrated by individuals openly affiliated with the MKP, hindering their operations.
These two regions witnessed significant electoral losses for the ANC during the last general elections, where many party members reportedly preferred to support the MKP. The ongoing dual membership issue has further complicated the ANC's internal dynamics, leading to challenges in convening branch general meetings and electing new leadership, thus stalling the province's potential elective conference.
In August, the ANC had set a roadmap for its 11 regions to prepare for the provincial conference, yet none successfully elected new leadership due to the ongoing turmoil within their branches. With the political landscape evolving, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal is poised to confront the dual membership debate head-on.