Winds of change have biting chill

SOON after 8pm on Thursday, political pundits had a taste of the chilly winds that could blow through the corridors of power as the animosity between the ANC and its estranged offspring, the Economic Freedom Fighters, started to build.

Since 1994, it has become convention for the head of state to visit the election results centre in Pretoria and talk informally to all parties in a relaxed atmosphere.

Not so on Thursday night. President Jacob Zuma spoke to all except Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters.

The EFF’s Floyd Shivambu let it be known to the ANC that Zuma would be ignored at the party’s table, but he was too late — the president got in first.

The results centre is uniquely South African. All the leading political parties, analysts, journalists and election officials gather under one roof, eating and talking together for three days after an election.

This week, it became a place where ANC treasurer Zweli Mkhize and DA leader Helen Zille could discover they have mutual acquaintances, and United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe could needle each other in Xhosa. It was also a place where Kenny Kunene could joke in fluent Afrikaans with the Cape Flats officials from his party, the Patriotic Alliance.

It also saw Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor and Public Service Minister Lindiwe Sisulu let their hair down and chat with the media about matters other than government business.

The ANC table gave a hint of its rising stars. Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba was all energy, Deputy Minister of Local Government Andries Nel spoke to everyone, and former minister Thoko Didiza showed she was back.

Other parties’ tables were also revealing of their fortunes. The Minority Front’s table remained unoccupied.

Agang’s team became smaller as the votes came in and its leader, Mamphela Ramphele, left quietly in the end.