ANC targets 82% of provincial vote

The provincial ANC chairperson, Ace Magashule, says all 318 branches of the ruling party in the province will have 100 volunteers each, which amounts to 31 800 volunteers

The re-elected chairperson of the ANC in the Free State, Ace Magashule, has revealed that the new provincial executive committee (PEC) will work hard together with branches to amass 82 percent of the votes in next year’s national elections.

Speaking at the reconvened Free State conference held at Welkom’s Phakisa Race Course, Magashule said Free State ANC branches are looking to mobilise 22 000 election volunteers in the next two weeks to conduct door-to-door campaigns.

“I know that other provinces are far ahead with their preparations. However, we have said every region in the province shall have 5 000 volunteers and we are expecting all 318 branches of the ANC in the province to have 100 volunteers each, which will give us 31 800 volunteers,” said Magashule.

The premier was re-elected unopposed following the disqualification of challenger, Mpho Ramakatsa. So did the rest of the PEC memebers who had to step down following a Constitutional Court ruling that annulled the committee on the eve of the ANC national conference Mangaung in December last year.

Six members of the ANC led by former MKMVA leader, Ramakatsa, went to court last year to challenge the validity of the provincial elective conference which elected Magashule and the PEC in Parys. The Constitutional Court nullified the conference and the ANC national executive committee (NEC) subsequently disbanded the PEC and ordered a rerun of the conference.

The others who retained their positions at last week’s conference were Thabo Manyoni as Magashule’s deputy, William Bulwana as provincial secretary, Mamiki Qabathe as deputy secretary, and Msebenzi Zwane as treasurer.