With the writing on the wall that the ANC’s electoral support could dip below the 50% mark in 2024, the party’s Gauteng structure is set to decide who will be the face of its campaign when it elects a new provincial leadership this weekend.
Co-operative governance and human settlements MEC Lebogang Maile and his education counterpart Panyaza Lesufi, the current ANC Gauteng provincial deputy chair, are likely to be the top contenders for the influential provincial chair position.
The two are no strangers to contesting each other for key positions in the party’s provincial structures. Lesufi got the better of Maile when they went head to head for the Gauteng deputy chairperson post in 2018.
Whoever is elected provincial chair could become the next Gauteng premier and take charge of SA’s economic powerhouse, which contributes about 35% to GDP. Current party chairperson and premier, David Makhura, is not running. Speculation has it that he is eyeing a bigger post in the ANC’s national structure.
The successful candidate is expected to lead the party’s effort in the general election in 2024, with early projections suggesting that the ANC could lose Gauteng.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will be keenly awaiting the results of the provincial conference. He is depending on whoever wins the contest to support him as he bids for a second term as ANC president in December.
The Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Northern Cape have already indicated their support for Ramaphosa’s re-election at their conferences.
A grouping supporting Maile said it is sure he will emerge victorious as he enjoys support from across the regions.
Lesufi’s spokesperson Steve Mabona did not respond to questions sent to him, but on Tuesday, Lesufi himself was coy about his chances.
Declining support
“I am humbled by the nominations. I am yet to accept or decline the nomination. [I] will do so in the next few days. I would also like to congratulate comrade Lebogang Maile for his nominations. I’ve worked very well with him and I don’t doubt his credentials,” Lesufi said.
Gauteng has five regions: Johannesburg, Tshwane, Sedibeng, West Rand and Ekurhuleni. The ANC’s electoral support has been declining in the province over the years, to 36.06% during the 2021 municipal elections, down from the 45.84% and 59.66% during the 2016 and 2011 municipal elections respectively.
ANC Johannesburg regional chair Dada Morero said on Monday that the region has made nominations and both candidates “have support in Joburg”.
“At my personal level as a delegate I fully support Lebohang Maile on the position of chairperson of the province. I don’t stand fully with his slate hence I have different preferences on other positions,” Morero said.
Maile is seen as close to former Ekurhuleni executive mayor Mzwandile Masina, a known ally of former president Jacob Zuma and the radical economic transformation faction aligned with him. He is also said to enjoy support from ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile.
Masina was re-elected ANC regional chair in May in what was said to be a preliminary outcome after about 19 votes from six disputed ANC branches were set aside until their status was resolved by the ANC’s national dispute resolution committee (NDRC).
Young
“Maile is a product of Cosas [ANC-aligned Congress of SA Students] and as former leaders of Cosas we believe he is the right person to advance the transformation agenda in Gauteng,” Morero said.
“Second I support comrade Parks Tau. I hope he makes it as the deputy chair, and comrade Jacob Khawe as the provincial secretary. I also believe a young person in the name of Matome Chiloane should come in as the treasurer,” Morero said.
“The numbers are looking very good. The Ekurhuleni region is a Maile region. Tshwane also supports him. In Joburg where Maile comes from, he enjoys 70% support, in Sedibeng it’s 50/50 and in West Rand he enjoys 70% support,” Thabiso Hlongwane, Maile’s campaign manager said.
Lesufi is close to Makhura, one of Ramaphosa’s main allies in the province. He has often served as acting Gauteng premier whenever Makhura is away. He is also close to basic education minister Angie Motshekga, a former president of the ANC Women’s League.
ANC Gauteng spokesperson Bones Modise did not respond to a request for comment.
The Sunday Times has quoted Lesufi as saying that his election as provincial chair would be a “first step towards saving Gauteng” for the party. He said enthusiasm for the ANC was waning and this had to be addressed, because losing power would be “sacrificing what our forefathers did for us”.
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