ANC sends SOS to Mbeki
JOHANNESBURG – The ANC is banking on former President Thabo Mbeki agreeing to join its election campaign ahead of the elections this year as it seeks to hold on to power. It has deployed the party’s head of elections, former KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli, to persuade Mbeki to help the ANC as it seeks re-election 30 years after taking power. Ntuli enjoys a close relationship with the former president.
Tough
The governing party is facing what many observers believe will be its toughest test, with another former President, Jacob Zuma, now campaigning for the new MK Party. Mbeki last week reportedly launched a scathing attack on Zuma giving insiders hope he will not be opposed to helping President Cyril Ramaphosa win a second term. The ANC believes Mbeki could turn things around for the party that is on the verge of losing power. He is the only party president to have won a two-thirds majority, when the ANC was re-elected in 2004.
Survey
A survey released in November by the Social Research Foundation (SRF) revealed that Mbeki was the most popular politician – beating even Ramaphosa. The Sunday Times has learnt that ANC leaders at Luthuli House are drafting a campaign schedule for Mbeki should he agree to come on board. ‘‘He hasn’t agreed yet, but we are confident that he will agree to come on board,’’ said a senior ANC member. ‘‘The idea is for us to have a plan for a post-manifesto launch because we want him to go out there campaigning with the manifesto in his hands. What we are getting from the likes of comrade Mdumiseni is that he is agreeing to attend the manifesto launch, but as I said, there is nothing formal as yet,’’ said the National Executive Committee (NEC) member. Ntuli declined to comment and referred all questions to the ANC.
Critic
Mbeki has in the past few months become a vocal critic of the ANC’s failure to deliver on its conference resolution to renew itself, giving the impression that he would not be willing to join the campaign. Last year, he told Eyewitness News he had not taken a decision whether to vote for the ANC or not.