I’m ready to lead – Sisulu
Minister all but raises hand to be the next president of the governing ANC
ANC’s executive member Lindiwe Sisulu says now that the National Policy Conference (NPC) has come and gone, should more branches call on her to stand for ANC presidency in December, she will consider their call favourably.
She also came out against President Jacob Zuma’s attack on the veterans saying his comments were misguided.
By raising her hand, Sisulu will throw Zuma’s silver bullet plan to fight factionalism with his proposed “loser-becomesdeputy” into disarray.
For now there are three other names in the race – Cyril Ramaphosa, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Jeff Radebe.
“Should more branches see me fit to ascend to the ANC’s top job, I will avail myself,” Sisulu said.
She also cautioned ANC branches to do a thorough assessment of whether those nominated for the job were beyond reproach.
“But at the same time branches must work out whether the person they want is the best person for that job. My displeasure is that the ANC allowed the leadership succession debate to have names attached to it before the policy conference while we did not even know what we are looking for.
“Now it appears we tailored our policies to suit the names that have been chosen and that is very wrong,” said Sisulu.
“We should have come to the policy conference first, work out what policies are best for the ANC, and only then start talking about which leaders must drive the implementation of those policies.
“But we are choosing the driver before knowing what kind of a car they will be driving, what happens when it is a bakkie and the driver is too short?”
She also said Zuma’s attack on the veterans was unnecessary and misguided.
She said she hoped that Zuma would reach out to veterans in his closing remarks.