Target: ANC Gauteng leaders

COMMITTEES: NATIONAL IN LATE TALKS WITH LESUFI'S MEN AFTER DISMAL POLL SHOWING

- Eric Mthobeli Naki

The future of Panyaza Lesufi at the helm of the ANC Gauteng was hanging in the balance late yesterday as the ANC top brass discussed the idea of dissolving the party's provincial executive committee (PEC).

The national working committee (NWC), the highest decision-making body between ANC national executive committee meetings, was locked in a meeting with the PEC in Boksburg until late.

The national leadership was dissatisfied with the electoral outcomes in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, where it received 34.76% in the May elections, down from 50.19% in 2019, and 17% from 54.2% respectively.

Lesufi and his committee were summoned by Luthuli House to appear before the NWC, but the gathering dragged on from noon, indicating the tension over the imminent decision to fire the entire Gauteng PEC and replace it with an interim task team.

Indications were that Lesufi would be tamed and put in his place as Ramaphosa forges ahead with the multiparty government of national unity, which Lesufi is vehemently opposed to.