Eastern Cape ANC members face off against Luthuli House

The Eastern Cape ANC and its national headquarters at Luthuli House are once again facing off in court.

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

Three dissatisfied members have approached the Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda seeking to nullify the party’s newly imposed interim provincial task team (PTT) and to have all its decisions declared invalid.

The PTT was initiated by Luthuli House to replace the expired provincial executive committee, but more so to address an internal squabble between two principal heavyweights, chair Oscar Mabuyane and sidelined provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi.

The 44-member PTT, announced early last month, was appointed by the ANC national executive committee (NEC) to replace the provincial executive committee (PEC) whose term had expired in May.

Mabuyane was named convener, with Eastern Cape provincial legislature speaker Helen Sauls-August as coordinator while Ngcukayitobi was demoted from a full-time position.

But applicants Lwazi Rotya, a Ward 24 branch member in the Dr WB Rubusana region, and two colleagues from other branches and regions, argue the PTT appointment is unconstitutional and infringes their rights as members in good standing.