Mantashe, Mabuyane and Masualle make nominations list in EC triple whammy
Premier Oscar Mabuyane, the ANC provincial chair and deputy president hopeful, says the battle for the top six positions is far from over, with more lobbying to be done ahead of the national elective conference at Nasrec, Johannesburg, in December.
The Eastern Cape received a major boost when its three senior leaders were among the top six nominees unveiled by the party’s electoral committee chair, Kgalema Motlanthe, on Tuesday.
The national consolidated list for the top six positions was compiled after branches and provinces completed their nominations.
Mabuyane, his predecessor Phumulo Masualle, who is also deputy minister of public enterprises, and ANC chair and mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe are all on the list.
In the battle for the deputy president position, Paul Mashatile, treasurer-general and acting secretarygeneral, led the pack with 1,791 branch nominations, followed by justice minister and NEC member Ronald Lamola with 427 and Mabuyane with 397.
Limpopo premier and provincial chair Stanley Mathabatha came out on top in the national chair race with 1,492 nominations, with Mantashe second (979) and deputy finance minister David Masondo in third spot (501).
In the showdown for the position of secretary-general, former Kwazulu-natal provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli bagged 1,225 nominations, followed by Masualle (889) and transport minister Fikile Mbalula (749).
The presidential battle has become a two-horse race between President Cyril Ramaphosa, who secured 2,037 nominations against former health minister Zweli Mkhize’s 916.
The campaigns of presidential hopefuls Nkosazana Dlamini-zuma and Lindiwe Sisulu fell flat.
For the deputy secretary-general position, NEC member Nomvula Mokonyane received 1,779 votes and Luthuli House general manager Febe Potgieter recorded 905.
The treasurer-general battle has Ramaphosa’s adviser Benjamin Chauke with 552 votes, spokesperson Pule Mabe (428) and Ekurhuleni regional chair Mzwandile Masina (348).
Former Nelson Mandela Bay councillor and ANC Youth League leader Andile Lungisa’s bid for the treasurergeneral position appeared to have been snubbed by the branches.
But it’s not all over for the candidates who did not make it — they could still be nominated from the floor at Nasrec.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mabuyane was upbeat about his nomination.
“I’m humbled, thanks to the branches who nominated me,” he said.
“But these are just nominations, so there is more lobbying work to be done in the next three weeks.
“It’s too early to tell now, everything is possible.”
All three national task teams of ANC leagues snubbed both Masualle and Mabuyane on their nomination lists in October, and Mantashe only got the nod from the ANC Women’s League.
However, Masualle said the province should not throw in the towel in its quest to be represented in the top six.
“With proper focus and united efforts there shall be a province presence at that level,” Masualle said.
The former premier’s backers were adamant he would emerge victorious at the conference.
“Phumulo stands a better chance,” an insider said.
“He enjoys support from within and out of the province.”
The source shot down the threat posed by Ntuli.
“This [Ntuli’s votes] was based on confusion in some provinces which has been resolved.
“We are confident that by the time we reach Nasrec there will be consolidation. The same is going to befall CR [Ramaphosa]. Zweli [Mkhize] started very late in terms of availing himself.”
Mabuyane’s allies said they were “100%” convinced his bid was on the right track.
Some leaders who did not make the cut have not yet given up.
Sisulu’s political adviser, Mphumzi Mdekazi, said Tuesday’s list was not “a true reflection of the nominations”.
“The floor will decide,” he said.