Dlamini-Zuma visits PE
Dlamini-Zuma confident she will get support in Eastern Cape
WHOEVER wins the presidential race in December should embrace the losers, and the losers should support the winners, ANC presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said.
Speaking to the media yesterday after doing a community outreach in Malabar, she said it was not a problem that there were other women presidential candidates, as that gave the branches more choice.
Last week, a group of ANC members who support Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu gathered at the East London ICC to officially endorse her for the presidential race.
National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete has also made herself available for the top job.
Dlamini-Zuma said: “There is a lot of leadership in the ANC, but unfortunately, for president, there has to be one winner.
“The branches will choose as they deem fit, as they look at what we call through the eye of the needle, and see which leader at this point in time will be best to lead the organisation.”
Dlamini–Zuma said she was positive about the support of the Eastern Cape for her presidential bid, despite the fact that no branch or region has pronounced on her candidacy.
Some of her rivals like Cyril Ramaphosa, Matthews Phosa and recently Lindiwe Sisulu, can boast about endorsement from provincial branches.
There is a lot of leadership in the ANC but unfortunately for president there has to be one winner
“The branches will start nominations in September, but I’ve been to the Eastern Cape. I’m not coming here for [the] first time,” she said.
“I have been at Amathole, Joe Gqabi and Buffalo City, as the ANC leader, to do some work. Branches will decide the way they want.”
Commenting on a call by President Jacob Zuma, at the end of the policy conference, for the losing candidate to become a deputy president, Dlamini-Zuma said that was for the branches to decide.
During her community outreach Dlamini-Zuma visited three destitute families, handing them blankets as part of her Mandela Day commitment.
She visited Annedine Daniels, 28, who suffered a stroke after brain tumour surgery at the age of 11.
Daniels’s mother, Elizabeth, said the visit was very special as it coincided with her 64th birthday today.
“I am turning 64 tomorrow [Tuesday], I am sharing a birthday with Mandela,” she said.