E Cape mulls top six

THE ANC in the Eastern Cape is busy discussing the names of preferred candidates to occupy the top six positions when the party goes to its crucial provincial elective conference later this year.

The conference is important as the new leadership will decide which candidate to back to succeed President Jacob Zuma when he steps down as ANC leader in December.

The Star understands that the largest ANC region, OR Tambo, wants provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane to become the next chairperson, and by extension premier. But both positions are currently occupied by Premier Phumulo Masualle, who is yet to announce his candidacy for another term at the helm.

The largely rural province is deeply divided over the anti- and pro-Zuma factions, with the dominant grouping seemingly warming up to the idea of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa succeeding Zuma.

The fact that Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address at a provincial rally in Mthatha seemed to cement that belief.

A list of names being circulated on social media lists the ANC’s provincial and regional leaders as possible candidates for the top six positions.

Besides Mabuyane, the list included Deputy Communications Minister Stella NdabeniAbrahams, Rural Development and Agrarian Reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, former ANC Youth League deputy president and Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Andile Lungisa and OR Tambo District Municipality executive mayor Nomakhosazana Meth.

Former journalist and Buffalo City Municipality’s infrastructure and engineering head Ncedo Kumbaca, the ANC OR Tambo regional secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi, her Amathole counterpart Teris Ntutu and Alfred Nzo District Municipality Speaker Tsileng Sobuthongo also made the list.