North West picks NDZ
The ANC in North West has selected Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, pictured, as its preferred candidate to lead the party in December.
The former African Union Commission chairperson and deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa are seen as frontrunners to replace Jacob Zuma as president.
At the weekend, the party resolved in Rustenburg to nominate and support Dlamini-Zuma, with Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza as her deputy.
Free State Premier Ace Magashule was nominated to contest the secretary-general position, Jessie Duarte for the first deputy secretary-general, Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle for second deputy secretary-general, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane for ANC treasurer and Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa for national chairperson.
Those nominated to contest positions as additional national executive committee members included ANC provincial secretary Dakota Legoete, Lerato Teme, Itumeleng Mosala, SA Communist Party North West deputy secretary Pat Motubatse, Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, North West finance, economy and enterprise development MEC Wendy Nelson, Pinky Moloi, ANC Youth League president Collen Maine, ANC Women’s League general secretary Meokgo Matuba, Rustenburg mayor Mpho Khunou, Humphrey Mmemezi and Obed Bapela.
The ANC Women’s League in North West has endorsed Dlamini-Zuma as its preferred presidential candidate, while the SA Communist Party and Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) preferred deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.
“We have nomination forms, if the position of the president was reserved to deputy president, it should have not been on the nomination form. All positions in the ANC are contested, all go through the nomination process,” provincial chair Supra Mahumapelo said.
Last week, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said the ruling party would be in a crisis if Zuma did not hand over the leadership reins to his deputy, Ramaphosa.
The other candidates in the leadership race include Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize – seen by some as a possible option for a unity ticket – and Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa. – ANA