North West executive boost for Zuma
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma’s bid for a second term as the president of the African National Congress (ANC) has gained further momentum after the ANC provincial executive committee in the faction-ridden North West said yesterday it would support his re-election.
This included that deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe — Mr Zuma’s likely challenger — retain his position. However, provincial leaders will have to lobby regions and, ultimately, branches to support their nominees. The North West provincial executive committee was seen to be divided on leadership ahead of the ANC national elective conference in Mangaung in December.
North West provincial chairman Supra Mahumapelo enjoyed majority support in the provincial executive committee and has been leading Mr Zuma’s re-election campaign in the province.
Mr Zuma’s opponents in the North West had been cautious not to alienate the president, opting to back any candidate who would agree to have North West Premier Thandi Modise as his deputy.
Ms Modise, who is also the deputy secretary-general of the ANC, and treasurer-general Mathews Phosa do not feature in the list of top six ANC officials nominated to serve under Mr Zuma that is being circulated to his supporters by his lobby group.
The North West provincial executive committee wants to keep Ms Modise, as well as ANC chairwoman Baleka Mbete and Mr Phosa. “This should be done to entrench unity and continuity,” ANC provincial spokesman Kenny Morolong said in a statement.
On Tuesday, the ANC released the final allocation to provinces of voting delegates, which is seen to favour Mr Zuma for re-election. This is based on the assumption that Mr Zuma will get support from the combined 1,756 delegates coming from his strongholds in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Free State — making up about 43% of the expected 4,500 delegates.
The candidate who will win the ANC’s number one position in Mangaung needs at least 2,251 votes.
ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Sihle Zikalala said yesterday the organisations had been on an “intensive recruitment drive” since October last year.
The rise in the ANC’s KwaZuluNatal membership of about 87,000 has raised eyebrows among some commentators, who believe the figures may have been gerrymandered to bolster Mr Zuma’s chances of a victory.
Political analyst Daniel Silke said the rising membership in KwaZuluNatal and drop in support for the party in other provinces, such as the Eastern Cape, pointed to a “creeping ethnic divide” in the run-up to the elective conference, which may unleash a “backlash” in the party a few years down the line, if not immediately. Following the opening of nominations this week, branches were expected to convene general meetings to elect delegates for Mangaung. Mr Motlanthe’s lobbyists said yesterday this was where the real battle will begin.
“The numbers are merely psychological warfare,” said a key campaigner for Mr Motlanthe. “What is crucial is getting the correct delegates to be nominated from branches,” said the source.
Mr Zuma’s critics are also likely to use the recent controversial revamp of the president’s Nkandla homestead to attack his leadership credibility. The government is reportedly developing Mr Zuma’s private residence using about R200m from the public purse — against the provisions of the Executive Members Ethics Act.
The ANC Western Cape provincial executive committee was still locked in a meeting to discuss its candidates late yesterday.