NUM says it’s backing Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma

THE NATIONAL Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has reinforced its support for Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed President Jacob Zuma as the next leader of the ANC.

The union, which briefed the media yesterday on the outcomes of its central committee meeting, declared Ramaphosa as the most suitable candidate.

General secretary David Sipunzi said the union took a decision to support the candidacy of Ramaphosa for presi- dent of the ANC in early June.

“The leadership of the ANC is elected by the ANC conferences, but as workers we have a vested interest as to who leads the ANC.

“As to when lobbying on the matter will be open, it is no longer an issue and those who think they alone have the right to lobby must think otherwise.”

While NUM is Cosatu affiliated, the union said it could not comment on the labour federation’s position on succession, but believed that at the end of the day, “Cosatu will come out”.

The labour federation last week said it would not make a public stance on who should succeed Zuma. Sipunzi said he did not want to make unofficial statements about where Cosatu stands.

“I do not want to talk about unofficial stances of other Cosatu affiliates on the issue of Cyril Ramaphosa.

“A decision has been taken on this matter (by NUM); Cosatu themselves will talk. But we are confident that it is not only NUM that is gunning for Cyril as the president. We will make sure that Cosatu at the end of the day comes out,” said Sipunzi.

Ramaphosa – a founding member of NUM, and seen as a wealthy businessman – will probably compete against Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

“What we understand is that Ramaphosa put aside all his business interests and concentrated on the politics. That’s what we know,” Sipunzi said.

He added that despite the ANC tradition of the deputy president taking over from the president, Ramaphosa was the most suitable candidate.

“This is not only based on the tradition of the ANC, but also on the suitability of the candidate.

“We firmly believe that debates on this issue should be organisational, and people must stop swearing at others, as that only serves to show how intolerant we are.

“The organisation has been grooming him to take over. Now if you take somebody from outside who knows nothing about the inner politics of the organisation just because they have some personal interests in that particular person and they are going to do good things for you, then I do not know,” said Sipunzi.

Meanwhile, Cosatu’s Sizwe Pamla told The Star that during its briefing last week, Cosatu mentioned the fact that its affiliates had every right to take a stance on their chosen candidate.

“NUM is an independent organisation affiliated to Cos- atu. It remains that. Affiliates have every right to have their say.”

Pamla said the union’s decision to back Ramaphosa was respected and it would listen to what its affiliates had to say.

“If NUM have concluded their decision… that is good for them. But that is NUM, not Cosatu.”

Pamla added that its other affiliates were still consulting, and that process needed to be respected.

NUM noted the ANC had “fared very badly” in the recent local elections.

‘An outsider would be problematic’