ANC election crisis meeting planned

THE top leadership of the ANC is set to meet this weekend as the party tries to deal with the fallout over its performance in the local government elections.

The urgency to deal with the matter has seen the party postpone its planned national executive committee conference, which was meant to take place this weekend.

The ANC has been thrown into crisis by its performance in the elections, which saw it emerge the overall winner but lose key metros to the opposition.

The decline in the party’s support in the metros has been interpreted in many quarters as a backlash by voters over corruption, poor services and the leadership of President Jacob Zuma.

The national executive committee meeting comes as the leadership of the ANC in Gauteng, where the party is set to become the opposition in Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni if the DA manages to conclude successful talks, scrambles to form coalition governments.

The DA and the EFF have indicated they are not interested in forming coalition governments with the ANC, leading the party to rely on smaller opposition parties.

Many ANC leaders have said the election results have forced the party into a deep introspection, but the blame game has also started.

There have been suggestions that the ANC in Gauteng is set to face the backlash over losing the metros in the province, with possible moves to disband the provincial structure. However, this has been denied by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.

While Zuma is already being blamed for the party’s performance in the polls, his backers in the ANC have started defending him.

Veterans

The ANC’s Military Veterans Association has already come out in support of the president, with more of his supporters expected to defend him against any suggestions that he should take the blame for the party’s performance.

The Gauteng ANC provincial executive committee, which met on Monday, said yesterday that it was already negotiating with opposition parties to form coalition governments after its meeting this past weekend.

“In municipalities where we have not received more than 50%, the PEC has mandated the provincial office bearers to urgently lead discussions with various parties to form coalition governments.

“These talks are under way and we will communicate once they are finalised. ANC national officials are providing guidance and support,” it said.

It was pleased about retaining the municipalities it won in the elections.

“The PEC expressed the view that the ANC should pursue an approach on coalitions that puts the interest of the communities first” it said.