ANC candidates are elected democratically
2005-11-17
IT appears that there is a lot of misinformation that is peddled around about the ANC process of choosing its candidates for the upcoming local Government elections. Allow me to set the record straight.
The ANC process is a combination of democratic procedures and transparency and it also allows for strategic political intervention.
It is as follows in as far as the ward candidates are concerned:
* People who were members in good standing (paid up) by 30 September 2005 deadline are eligible to participate in a properly constituted branch general meeting (50% +1 of members must be present) that participates in nominating ANC candidates.
* In this meeting members nominate ANC members who do not have a criminal record to stand as ANC Ward candidates in the local government elections. If more than one person is nominated the members vote to choose their candidate.
* People who lose in this democratic process are supposed to rally behind the chosen candidate.
* People with legitimate concerns about the way the process went in their wards can appeal to the Regional Executive Committee of the ANC. This is why we do not take kindly to disruptions of meetings and appeals that are done in the media.
* Within that properly constituted branch general meeting proportional candidates are also nominated. The persons with the highest number of votes in that branch general meeting will be the duly nominated person by that branch for the Party Representative (PR) list.
If the nominee with highest number of votes is male, then the branch should also submit the name of the female nominee with the highest number of votes. This is meant to effect gender balance of 50/50 male and female representation.
* PR candidates for both the local and district council should obtain 10% of the votes of the total number of ANC branches at both levels. (Drakenstein with 27 branches means a candidate must be nominated by at least 3 branches to meet the basic entry on the list).
* A regional list conference to be held will consider all nominations and make recommendations to the provincial list committee.
* The list should reflect representation of all national groups, people with disabilities and take into account the fact that 50% of ANC Councillors should be women.
Mike Mgajo
(Boland ANC Chairperson)
More
News
|
