Making headlines: Mpumalanga ANC denies Mabuza has a 'private army'; Dube says Ramaphosa's 191 KZN branch nominations are a 'serious victory'; And, North West deputy speaker says Supra is 'purging' her for supporting Ramaphosa

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Mpumalanga ANC denies Mabuza has a 'private army'

The ANC's structures in Mpumalanga yesterday lashed out at their former leader and ANC presidential hopeful Mathews Phosa, after he claimed that Mpumalanga ANC chairperson David Mabuza was using a "private army" to intimidate members.

Phosa made the claim after a video surfaced of a group of men, some wearing caps with a camouflage motif, were dancing outside a house. At least three men pulled out firearms and fired multiple shots into the air, while they were in a crowd that included children.

At a press conference at the ANC headquarters in Nelspruit yesterday, ANC Mpumalanga spokesperson Sasekani Manzini said the branch nominations process, which concluded this last week, was free and fair.

Dube says Ramaphosa's 191 KZN branch nominations are a 'serious victory'

African National Congress member Lawrence Dube, who took the party to court and won, was "barred" from attending the KwaZulu-Natal's provincial general council that ended on Tuesday.

Dube who is the main applicant that challenged the outcome of the 2015 provincial elective conference told News24 that, despite being called by the regional office to travel to Durban for the two-day PGC, his name was missing from the list of delegates on arrival and his branch, Beyers Naude in AbaQulusi region, was also not listed.

He is the chair of the branch.

He said his branch was repeatedly frustrated throughout the nomination process because they knew he backed deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa in the ANC's fierce presidential race.

Dube added that his branch received the nomination packs just nine days before the initial deadline for the branch general meetings to decide on preferred candidates.

The first meeting collapsed after the party deployee fled when there was "havoc". He claimed it was caused by Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma supporters in the branch.

And, North West deputy speaker says Supra is 'purging' her for supporting Ramaphosa

The North West legislature’s deputy speaker, Jane Manganye, is defying ANC provincial chair Supra Mahumapelo by refusing several orders that she resign from the position.

Manganye told News24 she was being "purged" because she supported Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in the ANC presidential race, while Mahumapelo supported Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Manganye said she was staying in the job as there was no compelling reason as to why they wanted to remove her. If they were saying she is not doing her work, she could understand, but she serves in all committees, no one has said she does not perform well.

She said her troubles escalated three weeks ago after she hosted Ramaphosa in Rustenburg under the banner of her other political home, the SACP.

On December 5, the provincial chairperson Dakota Legoete served Manganye with a letter, headed: "Final request to resign as the deputy speaker."

In the letter, Manganye is given until 11:00 on December 6 to resign and remain an ordinary member of the provincial legislature. If she refused, it would "become clear she was defying" the party’s leadership.

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That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
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