‘Younger generation need to build strong ANC’
Mabuyane nominated for deputy president position
ANC Eastern Cape chair Oscar Mabuyane says the ANC faces an “existential crisis” and it is about time the younger generation like his showed up and saved the party.
Mabuyane made the threshold needed for nomination for the deputy president position at the upcoming national conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg, in December. He was nominated alongside Paul Mashatile and Ronald Lamola.
Mabuyane said being regarded as an underdog for the position of deputy president gave him an opportunity to work hard and prove that he was capable of occupying the position and bringing about change.
His supporters nominated the 48-yearold Eastern Cape premier on Cyril Ramaphosa’s slate.
Ramaphosa, who is bidding for a second term as president of the party, faces a fierce contest from Zweli Mkhize.
“The lobbying goes on and surely it is going to be intensified now,” Mabuyane said.
He insisted he would not campaign for the position.
“The province has a lobby team that is lobbying all other provinces. We are on a constant engagement with all other provinces about our position as the province going to the national conference.
“Our interest is to see a stable conference that will also make political content so that we emerge with proper policies.
“It is always unfortunate that we sometimes prioritise the issue of leadership more than what informs the programme of action,” Mabuyane said.
He said he was not under pressure in any way for the position and was open to being guided by ANC branches. “I never campaigned for this nomination. But I have accepted the nomination.
“The province felt they can throw me in the lion’s den so that I can go and contribute in building a strong ANC that must be ready for 2024 [general elections].
“I am so humbled that I was able to make the threshold for nominations. I am not under pressure, I am comfortable. It is always good to be an underdog.”
Mabuyane said the party had no choice but to accept that the younger generation was needed in higher leadership positions.
“The ANC has to accept and realise that generational mix is inevitable. The population of this country is younger.
“We need a mix of younger and older people for a proper political blending.
“The ANC is facing an existential crisis and we are that generation that must save the party.
“We need to roll up our sleeves and get things done and make government work. Everyone in the government must appreciate that we need to perform or else there will be consequences.
“We need to put systems in place in government and set targets. In government, there are very low targets. It cannot be that we meet targets but with no impact on the lives of our people,” Mabuyane said. – Daily Dispatch