Stick to top six leaders – ANC

NEW PLAN AMID FEAR OF LOSING ELECTION Eight candidates, such as Sisulu and Mbete, who are already canvassing branches, will be asked to conform.

An alternative way to have an “uncontested” leadership elected and to avoid a factional winner-takes-all outcome at the upcoming ANC national conference is being explored by provincial structures of the ruling party.

Five ANC provincial chapters at the weekend agreed on the need for the top six leadership positions not to be contested – for the sake of party unity.

The provinces, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Free State, North West and KwaZulu-Natal, will ask other provinces to agree on the names of the top six leaders before canvassing the issue to branches and other structures.

It is understood that the deal came as some provinces had realised that the race for ANC presidency between main contenders Cyril Ramaphosa and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was divisive.

Also, there was fear among key members that should Dlamini-Zuma be elected, the ANC would lose the 2019 poll due to her link to President Jacob Zuma.

They suggested that some of the eight ANC presidential candidates who had already started to campaign should be asked to stop and conform. Other candidates include Lindiwe Sisulu, Baleka Mbete, Jeff Radebe and Mathews Phosa.

Mpumalanga premier and ANC provincial chairperson David Mabuza was behind the initiative.

This emerged from the Mpumalanga provincial general council held at Mbombela at the weekend.

Mabuza told the 10 000 delegates from various ANC structures and alliance party partners, that the journey of unity was important to ensure that the ANC survived.

His sentiments were echoed by North West’s Supra Mahumapelo: “We must do everything possible to make sure that we emerge with a collective leadership that has been agreed upon among all the delegates.”