ANC Gauteng Chairperson Panyaza Lesufi has warned that if load shedding and other socio-economic challenges are not resolved, the party risks losing the 2024 elections.
This emerged during the party Provincial General Council, PGC, meeting on Wednesday night in Turfontein, Johannesburg.
Lesufi, without mentioning the name of the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, called for the political head of the department that oversees Eskom to resign.
“We will mobilize the biggest march ever in this particular province to go to their offices (Eskom) to demand one thing and one thing only, that the political head of that particular Eskom must leave us in peace,” he said, stirring the vibrant crowd that filled up the hall.
Lesufi who is als Gauteng Premier, said the party should fight back to win back the municipalities it lost in Gauteng.
“As we go to the 55th conference we must go there to pass resolutions that will allow the ANC especially in our province to take over the municipalities.”
He accused the National Executive Committee (NEC) members of fighting each other in the media.
“All these comrades want to portray weak ANC leaders, especially NEC members who have been using media platforms to insult each other in the process and ignore the media process that should be followed in the ANC,” he said.
ANC National Treasurer General, Paul Mashatile also called for an end to the energy crisis.
“We need to sort out the energy crisis quicker…we have load shedding and I read Matla Power Station is on fire…with the resignation of (CEO Andre) De Ruyter it must be the beginning of a new era.”
Referring to De Reyter, Mashatile said it can’t take two years to fire a person who is not doing his work and it can’t take five years to fire ministers who are not performing. “So we are saying to the leadership, act decisively”..
Despite the crowd singing contradictory tunes, with some saying it is time for change referring to President Cyril Ramaphosa not being elected again and some calling for a second term for him, Lesufi called for the province to elect Mashatile for the Deputy President position and Nomvula Monkonyane for the Deputy Secretary.
The contradictory voices could be a signal that the party goes to the conference divided.
