Extra names for EC premier ‘a joke’

TWO additional names were being considered for the Eastern Cape premiership position by the ANC’s national executive in Luthuli House last night.

A provincial executive committee (PEC) decision last week to only endorse Phumulo Masualle’s name for the premiership had to be revised due to ANC rules which state that province’s must submit three names.

The province’s deployment committee was forced to add two more names and chose former Sakhisiwe mayor Weziwe Tikana and outgoing transport portfolio committee chairwoman Busisiwe NdlangisaMakawula.

Tikana, a former Chris Hani treasurer is 21st on the ANC list to the Bhisho Legislature, while Mt Frereborn Ndlangisa-Makawula is at 41.

A senior ANC leader, who sits on the PEC, said the nomination of the two additional names was a joke.

The source described the inclusion of the junior leaders, instead of Helen Sauls-August, who is number one on the list, and Mlibo Qoboshiyane, at number two, as an attempt to ensure Masualle secured the premier position at all costs.

Provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane confirmed the province had submitted three names, “in order of preference, with [the PEC] unanimous on the name of provincial chairman [Masualle]”.

Tikana is number two on the list which was scheduled to be tabled to the NEC for a final decision last night, and Ndlangisa-Makawula as the third option to replace Noxolo Kiviet.

Mabuyane said they were optimistic the NEC would endorse the PEC’s recommendation, despite rumours that President Jacob Zuma might also throw in Kiviet’s name and that of public works MEC Thandiswa Marawu.

It’s the president’s prerogative to pick and choose a premier, and he may choose someone outside the recommended list if he deems fit.

Mabuyane said it was unclear by when Zuma would make the NEC’s choice of premiers known to the public.

“I am

not

sure

about

the

president’s time-frames, but we have an NEC meeting today [Monday] to receive the report of the national officials,” he said.

Senior NEC leaders were locked in a national working committee meeting at the time of going to print, where final decisions on premiers and speaker of parliament were to be finalised.

Only after this meeting will the officials present the report to the party’s highest decision-making body (second to an elective conference), the NEC, for endorsement. —