Young brigade takes on ANC veterans
• Justice minister wants a new crop of leaders to emerge at the party’s national conference
Contestation for leadership positions in the ANC at its upcoming national conference in December is crowded by young people taking on former freedom fighters who have led the governing party for almost three decades since democracy, says Ronald Lamola. The 38-year-old justice minister is one of those youthful figures fighting for senior positions and is up for deputy president. Lamola says even though he may be the underdog, he is determined to contest the position held by David Mabuza.
Contestation for leadership positions in the ANC at its upcoming national conference in December is crowded by young people taking on former freedom fighters who have led the governing party for almost three decades since democracy, says Ronald Lamola.
The 38-year-old justice minister is one of those youthful figures fighting for senior positions at the elective conference. He is up for deputy president.
Lamola, a member of the ANC’s national executive committee, says even though he may be the underdog, he is determined to contest the position held by David Mabuza.
His is a fight largely based on principle — to remove former freedom fighters who want to lead the party even though they no longer appeal to the younger electorate.
While parties led by older people are bleeding votes, those led by more youthful leaders, such as the EFF, are slowly picking up.
“We are not saying we must chase away all the experienced comrades,” Lamola told Business Day in an exclusive interview. “It’s a very painful thing for us, particularly the younger generation who came in and who are here, when there is no clear succession plan for the next generation.
“I think a succession plan will help the ANC modernise and avoid becoming stagnant because it will be clear on how and where you go in terms of leadership.”
Lamola is facing competition from treasurer-general Paul Mashatile, defence minister Thandi Modise, former director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane, water & sanitation minister Senzo Mchunu and human settlements minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.
The ANC has struggled to make the transition from liberation movement to governing party. Having lost much electoral support, it has also lost its place as the leader of society. Not only the ANC’s core constituency stayed away in previous polls, but the party is struggling to remain relevant to the middle and working classes.
Lamola’s comments come after the release of proposed amendments to the ANC’s constitution, calling for an age limit on candidates for leadership positions, making those older than 65 ineligible. The amendment requires the approval of two-thirds of the more than 4,000 delegates expected to participate in the conference.
Should the amendments get the green light, they would exclude prominent ANC members from leadership positions. This would include President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is 70 years old, co-operative governance & traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, 73; public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan, 73; former health minister Zweli Mkhize, 66; and 67-year-old mineral resources & energy minister Gwede Mantashe.
Lamola’s campaign for deputy president has been endorsed by the leadership of his home province of Mpumalanga. But he was snubbed by his peers in the ANC Youth League — a structure he once led as deputy president under the presidency of EFF leader Julius Malema.
The structure’s interim leadership, which was appointed last year with the task of reviving the league, chose Mashatile over Lamola and also endorsed Mkhize over Ramaphosa for the presidency.
“I had no expectations at all [to be endorsed by the youth league] … [but] we are suffering from the first disbandment of the youth league,” Lamola said.
The league was dissolved in 2018 after it failed to elect a new leadership.
Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast said the ANC’s old guard is holding on to power because traditionally being in the top brass allows them access to the state. “The old don’t want to let go of power largely because of political protection ... which gives them access to state machinery and economic resources; so at a strategic level I don’t think there has been a plan for young people to take over the ANC on matters of leadership,” Breakfast said.