“Despite a cooked verification report suggesting qualification for BGMs, BBGM disqualifications raise questions; who presided over these BGMs without BECs? Have you seen BTT participating in elective conferences?
The disgruntled African National Congress members staged a protest outside OR Tambo ANC offices to hand over a petition of memorandum regarding BGM packages earlier this week, the recent unrest comes as the region is expecting to host its regional conference in a few days.
According to one of the branch secretaries who was present at the protest Schumile Plaatjie, 27 branches participated in the march, and further highlighted the grievances that led to the protest, citing concerns over the Branch General Meetings (BGMs) and Branch Executive Committee (BEC) elections.
Plaatjie shared some of the key issues, stating that, the ANC claims to have qualified 118 branches in OR Tambo, but 27 branches including his never convened any BGM successfully. “Despite a cooked verification report suggesting qualification for BGMs, BBGM disqualifications raise questions; who presided over these BGMs without BECs? Have you seen BTT participating in elective conferences? With appeals, we must allow the conference to sit, but after PDRC/NDRC verdicts drop us below the 70% threshold (103), our REC may be disbanded within a month due to wrong credentials,” said Plaatjie.
Plaatjie also noted a flawed VR, branches who mistakenly stated a wrong month. “Some say BGMs were in August while we’re still in June, RTTs run with packages because preferred members weren’t voted for in some branches and refuse to accept results. When we question this cunning, political non-starters defend the nonsense,” explained Plaatjie.
According to the secretary, the protesters waited outside the ANC offices to hand over their memorandum of grievances to the RTT convener. However, despite waiting until afternoon, the convener allegedly failed to show up. Instead, he reportedly ordered staff members to knock off early and had all the cars parked at the ANC offices removed from the premises. Plaatjie further stated that the disgruntled members have taken their grievances to Calata House to engage with higher-ups, feeling that they did not receive the attention they needed.
Attempts to reach the OR Tambo ANC office and the RTT convener for comment were unsuccessful. Initially, the convener claimed he was unaware of the protest and not in the office. Despite being given a time to call back for further clarification, our publication was unable to reach him before publishing.
