Cyril victory would give ANC a boost in W Cape
Little liking for NDZ in province despite her Struggle credentials
AWIN for Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa at the ANC’s elective conference this weekend would give the party some hope to regain support in the Western Cape. Independent political analyst Ralph Mathekga said most citizens in the province have little liking for Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma despite her strong Struggle credentials.
“The ANC is already struggling in the Western Cape and I don’t think Dlamini Zuma will help them. Cyril will also not help the province much, but it will give them a fresh start to regain some of the support they have lost.
“The Western Cape is one province that is strongly against the Zuma family, and being surrounded by the wrong individuals is not going to make it easier for Dlamini Zuma,” he said.
The Western Cape ANC has decided to back Ramaphosa and his slate to take over the ANC.
A total of 145 delegates from regions will be voting while an additional 27 members of the provincial executive committee will also be allowed to vote.
Ramaphosa received 121 branch nominations, with Lindiwe Sisulu receiving 98 nominations to be his deputy while the current ANC secretary-general received 128 nominations to be the party’s chairperson. Senzo Mchunu received 113 nominations, while Zingiswa Losi received 60 nominations to be his deputy, and Paul Mashatile received 127 to be the party’s treasurer-general.
But “the DA is not going to allow Cyril to just come into their stronghold and do what he wants to do. The DA will attack him,” Mathekga said.
“Cyril has made inroads, but at the conference the complete opposite can happen,” he said.
Faiez Jacobs, provincial ANC secretary, said both Dlamini Zuma and Ramaphosa were good candidates with strong credentials.
“But the Western Cape wanted Cyril to be the next leader. There is an overwhelming sense of change in the province to deal with the current problems we have in the organisation. We would welcome Cyril’s victory and it will certainly give us a chance to fix things, not only in the organisation but also there where we govern,” he said.
Xolani Sotashe, ANC Cape metro chairperson, said whoever takes over should focus on the resources needed in the region.
Sotashe, who was seen as a supporter of Dlamini Zuma, said: “Whoever wins needs to look at the province and ask serious questions. Both candidates are good, but we need an overhaul of our economy, greater investment in education and a refocus on the previously disadvantaged,” he said.