The ANC has raised security concerns regarding international spies that it has alleged are trying to infiltrate its 55th Elective Conference to be held in Nasrec south of Joburg on 16 December, according to party spokesperson Pule Mabe addressing the media during a tour of the venue this week.
The ANC conference has attracted local, regional and international media interests.
“On Monday we met some media houses for the first time with international press-cards and they didn’t apply to be accredited for the conference.
“There have been people who have been found here claiming to be from the media when they actually came from some external intelligence structures. They were caught right handed here,” he said.
Mabe said the ANC has received more than 700 applications for accreditation and those who didn’t apply on time, have had some of their applications declined while some were approved.
“Those whose applications were declined could not show us where they are operating from, could not produce press cards and didn’t know how to support their existence.
“We must be seen promoting diversity, so (we) need each and every media house that will be covering the conference; international, regional, local to have their spaces to do so.”
Mabe also discouraged the disgruntled ANC groupings from taking the party to court saying those who feel strongly that they should be part of the leadership should raise their names on the floor as long as they met the required 25% threshold.
“Don’t think the door is closed, but if you go to court, go alone, don’t mobilize people who don’t know.”
The likes of Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Deputy President David Mabuza were the first to cry foul claiming their names are not on the list of nominees despite being endorsed overwhelmingly by branches.
