Provinces reject slate voting in December election

ANC officials in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal smoked the peace pipe on Monday in a bilateral meeting at which they rejected the “winner takes all” principle for the party’s election of new leadership in December.

This means both provinces, with significant membership bases, have rejected slates and are opting for a more unitary approach to ANC succession.

KwaZulu-Natal is firmly behind Nkosazana DlaminiZuma, while Mpumalanga has not thrown its weight behind her, despite being aligned to President Jacob Zuma, who has endorsed his former wife.

The Mail & Guardian reported on Friday that Mpumalanga ANC chairman David Mabuza had been threatened with arrest if his province did not support Dlamini-Zuma. Mabuza allies said earlier in 2017 that he was uncomfortable with the Guptas and was cautious not to associate himself with the family.

The two provinces said they rejected “any proximity and association” with the Guptas.

“We categorically reject any association and/or proximity to any business interests or groupings, including the Guptas. The conduct of business in general and Guptas in particular has been driven by a desire for profit maximisation .... As revolutionaries we must … never fall prey to their trick and influence.”

The provinces rejected slate politics, saying they “will not be associated with anyone advancing a winner takes all principle”.

KwaZulu-Natal ANC chairman Sihle Zikalala favours a proposal made by Zuma at the party’s policy conference in June that the losing presidential candidate becomes the deputy president in December.

Mabuza, it is understood, has been talking to other provinces about increasing the party’s top six structure to nine to accommodate the various factions.

Two weeks ago, the ANC’s Alfred Nzo region in the Eastern Cape came out in support of treasurer Zweli Mkhize for ANC president. The region also wants Mabuza and Gauteng chairman Paul Mashatile accommodated in the top leadership.

“The unity of the movement must take precedence over provincial parochial interests,” the provincial executive committees of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal said.