The start to the ANC’s 55th National Elective Conference in Nasrec was delayed for over six hours because of technical glitches which affected online registration.
The conference was initially scheduled to kick off at 09:00 in the morning today. But following technical problems with the system some members struggled to get registration with some of the delegates’ pictures said not corresponding with their names.
ANC chairperson, Gwede Mantsashe confirmed that delegates were “struggling” and he pushed the starting time to 14:00.
“We should formally delay the starting of the conference and allow people time for lunch and start formally at 14:00. Because if there are no delegates there can be no conference. Some of us are here at 9:00 but it doesn’t make any difference. I am told they are struggling,” said Mantashe.
When Newsnote visited the Unisa campus in Ormonde, a delegate from Kwa- Zulu said they had completed their registration process on Thursday and were only waiting for a few of their members to finalize their registration.
But some delegates decried the system saying they struggled to get registered.
ANC delegates could still be seen still making their way into the registration center well past the rescheduled time.
The conference only started at 16:00 with some chairs earmarked for Limpopo, North West and Free State delegates still unoccupied while some delegates could be seen walking in the venue when President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the party’s political report.
