ANC Gauteng chair Panyaza Lesufi has come out guns blazing, accusing “certain leaders” of having run out of ideas to lead. Such leaders, he said, needed to leave before they were pushed. He said the party was not for sale to the highest bidder.
Lesufi did not mention names, saying his province would not publicly endorse an individual to lead the ANC for unity’s sake — this as party branches in provinces such as Eastern Cape and Limpopo have solidified their support for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s re-election as party president.
Lesufi told provinces that shared Gauteng’s stance to count on it for support during the national elective conference starting on Friday.
“There are certain leaders ... they have run out of ideas. It’s better they leave before we push them ... Those provinces that want us to re-energise the ANC must count on us, those provinces that want to bring the ANC where it belongs must count on us, but those who want to divide the ANC, asizi [we are not coming],” Lesufi said.
Ramaphosa is facing a stiff challenge from former health minister, Zweli Mkhize who has strong support in KwaZulu-Natal and has been criss-crossing SA’s commercial hubs in recent weeks, hoping to capitalise on the fallout from the Phala Phala scandal which has threatened to end Ramaphosa’s political career.
The president was given a reprieve on Tuesday when the ANC used its majority in the National Assembly to block the adoption of the parliamentary report into theft at his game farm. If the house had adopted the report, it would have triggered an impeachment process, which would have made Ramaphosa ineligible to contest for the ANC presidency.
Pundits and analysts have said the economy could take a knock if Ramaphosa was not re-elected.
They said his defeat would effectively put a stop to his reform agenda.
The five-day conference, which begins on Thursday, is expected to come up with a new leadership, including the top six officials and the 80-member national executive committee.
“We must not allow the 55th national conference in Nasrec to divide us ... As Gauteng, we are not going to choose any slate, we are not going to choose any individual, we are only going to be on the side of the ANC,” Lesufi said.
The provincial executive committee was worried about what might happen at the elective congress, he said. “We have a responsibility as Gauteng to not contribute to any chaos [that may ensue].”
“As we enter the doorstep of this conference, the leadership to be elected will determine the true direction we want to take as the ANC and the country ... We are going to conference to elect new people ... This is our ANC,” he said.
The Gauteng premier said the conference would be a defining moment for the party.
“Is the ANC truly able to resurrect itself and let go of its label as a corrupt and factional organisation? Can the ANC be an effective instrument or continue on a path for self destruction?”
Provinces including Limpopo and Eastern Cape — led by Ramaphosa’s allies — are in support of Ramaphosa’s re-election campaign that has received 2,037 branch nominations, more than double the 937 Mkhize has received.
Gauteng, which represents the fourth largest voting bloc at the national conference, however, threw its weight behind ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile to be deputy president, Nomvula Mokonyane to be deputy secretary-general,
Mdumiseni Ntuli to be secretary-general, Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha to be chairperson and Pule Mabe to be treasurer-general.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo said the province, which held a “cadres” assembly on Wednesday, has not moved from its position of endorsing Mkhize for president, Mashatile for deputy, Mokonyane for deputy secretary-general, Phumulo Masualle for secretary-general, and Mathabatha as chair.
Limpopo endorsed ANC head of organising, Nomvula Mokonyane as deputy secretary-general, Ramaphosa adviser Bejani Chauke for treasurer-general and former ANC KwaZulu provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli for secretary-general.
Mathabatha is the front-runner to become the ANC’s national chair with 1,492 branch nominations, against mineral resources & energy minister Gwede Mantashe’s 979 and deputy finance minister David Masondo’s 501.
For ANC secretary-general, Ntuli got 1,225 nominations compared with deputy public enterprises minister Phumulo Masualle’s 889 and transport minister Fikile Mbalula’s 749.
Ntuli has also been backed by Mpumalanga for secretary-
general. The province has also backed Ramaphosa for president and Lamola for deputy president. ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe and Ekurhuleni chair Mzwandile Masina also obtained sufficient nominations to be on the ballot for the position of
treasurer-general.
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