Home

Polokwane Court dismisses interim interdict against Waterberg conference

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The African National Congress’ (ANC) Waterberg regional elective conference will resume in the first week of December.

The High Court in Polokwane has dismissed an interim interdict against the conference.

Disgruntled members from seven branches sought the interdict to stop the regional elective conference earlier in November.

A faction of the ANC from seven branches in Lephalale, Thabazimbi and Mogalakwena wanted the court interdict to stop the regional elective conference earlier in November to be made permanent.

The ANC National Executive Committee did not oppose the application although it was the first respondent when the interdict was filed.

Only the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) opposed the application to make the interdict permanent.

The interdicted conference collapsed before the interdict was handed to the leadership.

The conference collapsed due to unresolved disputes over credentials, verifications and the registrations process.

When making the ruling, Acting Judge Sydwell Sikhwari pointed out that the application was not necessary because the conference in question was abandoned.

“The conference was abandoned on the 5th of November 2017 and the reason for abandoning the conference, it was not a court order … this interdict that was brought in this court it does not extend to that in where in it can interdict the ANC from having a future conference the rule nisi and the interim order which was granted by this court on the 5th of November is hereby discharge each part will pay its one costs.”

According to Acting Judge Sikhwari, the interdict was only applicable to the conference that was scheduled on November 5.

The lawyer for the disgruntled ANC members who sought to make the interdict permanent, advocate Phofolane Koma says they intended to withdraw their application.

“The notice of withdrawal was done, but because of some reasons it proceeded. But because of some reasons the withdrawal was done over the weekend on Saturday judge has set aside the interdict because the interdict was intended to interdict the conference which took place on the 5th of November.”

The spokesperson for the ANC Waterberg region, Billy Teffo says they welcome the court’s decision.

“We are pleased about the outcome. We have (been) cautioning individuals that they should not run to the court. ANC process should be respected.”

The public gallery of the court where the matter was being heard was full to capacity.

Among those who were in court was former mayor of the Mogalakwena Local Municipality, Thlalefi Mashamaite.

The Vhembe, Sekhukhune and Mopani regions of the ANC have already held their regional conferences. The Peter Mokaba region is yet to hold its conference.

Author

MOST READ