ANC's Darkest Hour: Veterans League Slams 'Illegitimate' Regional Conferences

The ANC Veterans League in Limpopo has unleashed a scathing attack on the party's regional conferences in Peter Mokaba and Vhembe regions, labeling them "irregular, unconstitutional, violent, and erratic."

ANC Veterans League Provincial Secretary Sechaba Nkoana condemned the conferences, saying they "brought the name of the entire ANC membership into disrepute." The league's damning critique has sent shockwaves through the party, exposing deep-seated divisions and a crisis of leadership.

Nkoana's words paint a vivid picture of the chaos and violence that erupted at the Peter Mokaba regional conference. "Chairs were thrown, tables overturned, and delegates scattered, with bouncers deployed to deal with disaffected branch delegates," he alleged.

The conference, meant to be a celebration of democracy and party unity, degenerated into a free-for-all, with delegates fighting for their rights and the party's future. The ANC Veterans League accused the Provincial Secretary's Office (PSO) of orchestrating the chaos, manipulating the conference processes, and disregarding dispute resolution procedures.

The ANC Veterans League's criticism of the conferences is not just about the violence and chaos that erupted but also about the fundamental flaws in the conference processes. Nkoana stated that the PSO's actions "rendered the regional conference questionable and illegitimate."

He added that the league's warnings against premature pre-registration of conference delegates were ignored, leading to the current crisis. The league's concerns about the conference processes were repeatedly dismissed, and the party's leadership seemed more interested in imposing its will than in following the rules.

The ANC Veterans League has demanded that the outcomes of both conferences be nullified and that the NEC institute a formal enquiry into the matter. Nkoana emphasized that the ANC's renewal project is at stake and that the party must prioritize its values and integrity. "The ANC's cadre development policy must encourage creativity in thought and practice, and eschew rigid dogma," he said. The league's call for accountability is not just about punishing those responsible for the chaos but about restoring the party's reputation and credibility.

The ANC Veterans League's critique highlights the existential crisis facing the party. The party's future hangs in the balance, and it remains to be seen whether it will heed the veterans' call for accountability and change. The league's words are a wake-up call for the party to address the rot and restore its reputation as a revolutionary movement. The party's leadership must take responsibility for the chaos and violence that erupted at the conferences and work towards healing the divisions within the party.

The ANC's crisis is not just about the conferences but about the party's leadership and direction. The party's leadership has been accused of being out of touch with the party's grassroots and of prioritizing power and patronage over principles and values. The league's critique highlights the need for a new kind of leadership, one that prioritizes the party's values and principles over personal interests and power. The party's future depends on its ability to address the crisis of leadership and to find a new path forward.

The ANC Veterans League's critique highlights the need for reform within the party. The party's structures and processes must be overhauled to ensure that they serve the party's interests and values. The league's call for accountability and transparency is not just about cleaning up the party's image but about restoring its credibility and effectiveness. The party's future depends on its ability to reform itself and to find a new path forward.

The ANC Veterans League's critique is not just a criticism of the party's leadership but a call to action. The party's members and leaders must take responsibility for the party's future and work towards restoring its reputation and credibility. The league's words are a reminder that the party's future is in its own hands and that it must take action to address the crisis. The party's renewal project is at stake, and it remains to be seen whether it will heed the veterans' call for accountability and change.

The ANC Veterans League's critique of the party's regional conferences is a wake-up call for the party to address the rot and restore its reputation as a revolutionary movement. The party's future hangs in the balance, and it remains to be seen whether it will heed the veterans' call for accountability and change.

The party's leadership must take responsibility for the chaos and violence that erupted at the conferences and work towards healing the divisions within the party. The party's future depends on its ability to reform itself and to find a new path forward.