Nothing will stop ANC's EC provincial conference, says Mbalula

African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said only a freak of nature or a natural disaster will stop the party from holding its Eastern Cape provincial conference this weekend.

He said the conference will go ahead despite several disputes over the process, including a High Court application that threatens to derail the conference.

The conference will take place kuGompo – formerly East London – where the current provincial chairperson, Oscar Mabuyane, will square off with the provincial secretary, Lulama Ngcukayitobi, for the province’s top job.

The ANC in the Eastern Cape is ready for its provincial conference this weekend, despite what it called “frivolous” disputes over the process and the eligibility of certain members.

But the provincial and national leadership are adamant that the conference will go ahead despite the threats to stop it from proceeding.

Mbalula said the party will defend itself and prove its case in court.

He said the election, expected to be attended by 1,300 branch delegates, cannot be stopped.

“The only thing that can stop us from having this conference is if that whole seafront occupies the whole of East London, something like a tsunami. I don’t see that happening because these things we’ve been made to run around for are frivolous, about the courts and all of that. We are running a tight ship.”

Meanwhile, Mabuyane, who is seeking a third term, said the conference is critical for the party’s future as it also prepares for the local government elections later this year.