Gender, tribe not leader criteria
ANC veteran Dr Albertina Luthuli has warned that nominations for its next president should not be based on gender or tribe as that would further divide the party.
She was speaking ahead of the ANC’S 54th national elective conference which will be held in December. While the succession debate has not been formally opened, some of the party’s structures have publicly endorsed candidates to take over from Jacob Zuma.
The ANC Women’s League has called for a female president and has received the support of the ANC Youth League in backing Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
Another name expected when nominations are officially opened at the ANC policy conference in June is Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Gender and tribe don’t make up qualities of a leader and we should not be tempted to fall into the trap of nominating candidates based on those because those that will divide the party.
“We keep talking about gender equality but nominating a candidate based on gender is not what gender equality is about. Also, if you look at the history of the ANC in the past 22 years, all the presidents have been Ngunis and the minority groups have not been given an opportunity and that has created tensions.”
The former MP said she only wanted a leader that had the capacity to lead the ANC and the country with integrity.
She said should the male and female candidate be tied in terms of votes during the elective conference then the latter could be given an opportunity to lead.
“A woman should not be given preference just because she is female but because she has the qualities of the good leader, then by all means she should be the next president.”
ANC national spokesman Zizi Kodwa said he could not comment on Luthuli’s statements as she had spoken in her personal capacity.
“However, we have repeatedly urged all members of the ANC not to turn the matter of succession into a public debate because that is premature and also against the policies and culture of the ANC. It is only once the nomination process is formally opened that we can talk about it,” he said.