Mantashe has mixed feelings about leaving

Secretary-general gives ANC’s key conference a vote of confidence

OUTGOING ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe says he has mixed emotions as he leaves behind a “difficult and complex” office. He was speaking yesterday on the eve of the ANC’s 54th national conference in Joburg, which begins tomorrow and ends on Wednesday.

“Leaving an office I enjoyed for 10 years is a mixed feeling. It’s a very difficult office, very complex. You absorb blame for everything and don’t get any credit for anything. That’s it, we have enjoyed it… we are coming to an end,” Mantashe told reporters at the conference venue, Nasrec.

Despite the disputes over candidate nominations, some of which have ended up in court, Mantashe said the elective conference where President Jacob Zuma’s END OF CHAPTER: Gwede Mantashe. successor as leader of the ANC would be elected was going ahead as planned.

“We are quite happy that conference will go ahead, it will be successful, it won’t collapse. Those who said it will collapse are probably disappointed already,” he added.

“It will be the most well-organised, most engaging conference.”

The conference, seen as the most important in the ANC’s history, will see delegates voting for their preferred top six leaders and national executive committee members.

Voting for the new ANC president takes place on Sunday. – African News Agency/ ANA

‘YOU ABSORB THE BLAME FOR EVERYTHING AND DON’T GET CREDIT FOR ANYTHING’