ANC infighting over alleged candidate list manipulation

Members of the African National Congress (ANC) in the Dr WB Rubusana region of the Eastern Cape are protesting what they perceive as manipulation of branch nominations for council candidates in upcoming local government elections. The discontent also extends to allegations of victimization of regional deputy chair Malibongwe Mfazwe by fellow ANC leaders.

Mfazwe is reportedly targeted due to his opposition to alleged manipulation of the nomination process, which is allegedly dominated by faction leader Princess Faku, who is the mayor of Buffalo City metro municipality. The differing views between Mfazwe and Faku regarding the way forward in the nomination of council candidates are said to be causing the tensions.

A concerned group of members claims that Mfazwe was placed 10th on the consolidated ANC PR list, despite being nominated by over 33 ANC branches. The dissatisfied members allege that Mfazwe is being sidelined because of his political differences with Faku. According to a member who wished to remain anonymous, "This placement was influenced by political differences between Mfazwe and regional chair Faku."

The members allege that empty nomination forms were distributed with a directive from the top to branches to submit them, with the favored candidates' names to be filled in after the branch general meeting. This, they claim, was intended to facilitate manipulation of the outcomes. The members assert that they possess evidence, including minutes, attendance registers, and nomination forms from the 33 branches that nominated Mfazwe.

They have offered to submit this evidence upon request from the ANC leadership. Should internal ANC processes fail to resolve the issue within a reasonable timeframe, the members have stated that they will reserve the right to take legal action, reserving the right to seek a court interdiction of the flawed and manipulated candidate selection processes.

The ANC region has a history of infighting and the rigging of election processes, with recent members taking the party's provincial and national structures to court over the alleged manipulation of the outcomes of branch general meetings.