INLSA
Sibongiseni Dhlomo
The ANC was expected to pass an extraordinary resolution banning cellphones from the voting venue at the eThekwini regional elective conference in Durban this weekend.
Insiders said that the resolution would be taken to protect the integrity of the process.
The highly contested election has been characterised by death threats, smear campaigns and allegations of cash for votes.
Both camps in the campaign have complained that sweeteners in the form of tenders, promotions, food parcels and money for votes had been offered to delegates to vote for a particular candidate.
The understanding is apparently that, once they have marked their ballot sheet, they will take a cellphone picture of it and MMS it to whoever paid them.
“We are so happy that cellphones will be banned. At least now our people will be free to vote for who they like…” said an ANC member.
Tomorrow’s conference at the Olive Centre will see ANC veteran and former MK cadre, Sibongiseni Dhlomo standing for the position of regional chairman in eThekwini against MPL Nhlankanipho Ntombela.
The remaining hours before the conference were described as “tense”, with caucuses being held around the region in a bid to secure victory for the ANC’s largest region in the country.
Questioned about allegations of “dirty tricks”, Ntombela defended the conduct of his lobby group saying “our conscience is clear”.
Without mentioning any names, he accused another lobby group of using money to win the battle.
Ntombela could only have been talking about the Dhlomo faction because, at the start of the campaign contestation, there were four potential candidates, but it was whittled down to two.
“There is a lobby group, they were well funded. For branch general meetings they even had catering.
“Some are saying they will win it on the table. They’ve been boasting about it openly,” Ntombela said.
Humbled
Dhlomo, the Health MEC who is said to have the firm backing of his friend and fellow medical colleague, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize, said he was humbled that his comrades believed he could take charge of the ANC in such a huge region.
He refused to comment about the election, saying the “the conference is about the ANC branches, so no one individual can speak on behalf of the branches”.
Earlier this week it emerged that a deputy city manager in eThekwini who openly supports Dhlomo for chairman on his Facebook page, apparently landed in hot water for using a municipal meeting to lobby for his friend.
Municipal insiders said the deputy city manager was hauled over the coals in a forum by colleagues who were unhappy with his conduct.
At least 600 delegates were expected to attend the two-day conference.
