The African National Congress (ANC) in the Eastern Cape has confirmed that it has filed court papers to appeal a ruling by the East London High Court, which interdicted its much-anticipated 10th Elective Conference scheduled to take place on Friday.
In an official response, the party acknowledged the judgment and indicated that it is seeking legal recourse to overturn the decision, emphasizing its commitment to ensuring that internal democratic processes continue. The ANC said it would follow all necessary legal channels while working to resolve disputes raised by some of its members.
The court’s decision came after a group of disgruntled party members brought an urgent application challenging the legitimacy of the processes leading up to the conference, particularly the handling of Branch General Meetings. These members argued that their concerns and objections were not adequately addressed, rendering the conference procedurally flawed.
In its ruling, the court found that there was insufficient time to properly ventilate and resolve the issues raised before the conference could proceed, leading to the interdict. This effectively halted preparations just as delegates were expected to gather.
Adding to the pressure, the ANC’s Joe Gqabi regional branch also approached the court with a separate application seeking to interdict the conference, reinforcing concerns about internal divisions within the party in the province.
Despite the legal setback and ongoing disputes, large numbers of ANC members and delegates gathered at the Orient Theatre in East London, where registration for the conference was due to take place. The turnout highlighted both the significance of the elective conference and the heightened tensions surrounding it.
The outcome of the ANC’s appeal is expected to be crucial in determining whether the conference can proceed in the near future, as the party attempts to balance internal contestation with its constitutional processes.
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Facebook – MyANC
