THE ANC North West elective conference was hit by yet another twist on Saturday, 13 August when the interim provincial committee (IPC) was disbanded and four regions were relegated to non-voting delegates.
This instruction was contained in a letter to the conference forwarded to national executive committee members deployed to the conference to oversee the hosting of the conference.
In the letter not addressed to any particular individual or structure, ANC Treasurer General Paul Mashatile pointed out that the IPC had ceased to exist as a structure and therefore could no longer continue to facilitate the much anticipated conference to elect new leadership in the province.
Further, Mashatile wrote that the IPC members will play no further role in the conference and the regional representatives will also not vote in the conference.
"The NEC deployees will oversee the conference until its finalisation with the conference; credentials of the conference will be recorded as a decision of conference," Mashatile said in the letter.
READ: ANC NW conference running behind schedule
The instructions came as the conference was facing another court challenge to interdict it after disgruntled members successfully challenged the legitimacy of the IPC.
But this time around the conference itself is facing an interdict in what is threatening to have it declared null and void.
Despite the court challenge which was scheduled to be heard late on Saturday night, the conference proceeded and was opened by Deputy President David Mabuza who in his address echoed warnings of party leaders of how factions were destroying the party.
"This conference takes place at a time when our movement, in its totality, is facing challenges to maintaining unity of purpose, ideological coherence around the National Democratic Revolution, and organisational discipline to carry out the mandate to selflessly serve the people.
"We meet at a time when the people we profess the ANC serves as the leader of society, are questioning and in doubt about our ability to provide leadership to the complex societal challenges of the hour," Mabuza said.
After his opening address, the conference went into closing session where the contentious issue of credentials is expected to generate a heated debate.
This will take place while the court hearing of interdicting the conference takes place in Mafikeng.
NEC deployee Obed Bapela said nominations for the top five positions were scheduled to take place soon after credentials were adopted and voting to take place thereafter.
