Durban — Despite widespread condemnation of KwaZulu-Natal ANC delegates’ hooligan behaviour at the party's 55th national conference last week, the provincial leadership said it would not discipline them.
Before and during the presidential address, a handful of delegates from the province sang an anti-president Cyril Ramaphosa song, “Wenzeni uZuma” which was remixed with the Phala Phala debacle.
The delegates booed the president during his political report speech and shouted “akabuyi” (he is not coming back) while banging tables. Perhaps their worst behaviour, which for many warranted action, was when the electoral committee had announced the re-election of the president and his slate.
The delegates at the back pelted one of the president’s backers in KZN, Jomo Sibiya, with water bottles during his interview with the media, where he congratulated the president on his re-election.
WATCH: President Cyril Ramaphosa who was speaking, was interrupted by the arrival of former president Jacob Zuma while some delegates sang "Wenzeni uZuma". @PhungulaWillem #ANCConference #ANCElectiveConference pic.twitter.com/XnJz89kyYF
— Daily News (@DailyNewsSA) December 16, 2022
Speaking to the Daily News on Wednesday, ANC provincial spokesperson Mafika Mndebele said the province never said it would take action against delegates that were disturbing the programme. He said the matter was addressed and ended at the conference so there was nothing more that needed to be pursued since delegates behaved well after the leadership spoke to them.
“We spoke to our delegates about their behaviour and they listened because they behaved well thereafter. At no stage did we say we will take any action against anyone,” said Mndebele.
Water bottles thrown at ANC KZN's Jomo Sibiya while giving his views on the newly-elected ANC Top 7. The bottles were thrown him by some delegates from KwaZulu-Natal. #SABCNews #ANC #ANC55 #ANCNC55 #ANCElects2022 #ANCelectiveconference pic.twitter.com/qfI4fm3qiH
— Sipho King K Kekana (@KingKAzania) December 19, 2022
On pelting Sibiya with water bottles, Mndebele said the provincial leadership was not aware of that since the matter was not reported to it. Sibiya, a former Human Settlements and Public Works MEC, said he was shocked that the provincial leadership said it was not aware of the incident. He said it was not true that the leadership did not see it.
“It is true that I did not raise the issue with the provincial leadership, but they cannot say they were not aware of it since it was a talking point in all media platforms. As a politician myself, I understood their emotions after their side lost, but the leadership was supposed to reprimand them at least, because keeping quiet may mean condoning the behaviour,” said Sibiya.
Sibiya also dismissed allegations of vote buying, adding that many provinces had pronounced Ramaphosa long before the conference.
Daily News