ANC KZN set to defy Motlanthe on pronouncement
● The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal is set to defy an instruction by former president Kgalema Motlanthe for the province to desist from announcing its preferred candidates by publicly supporting former health minister Zweli Mkhize.
Motlanthe, chair of the electoral committee, issued a letter on Friday warning party structures of possible disciplinary charges should they continue breaching the rules.
But ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo told the Sunday Times his province will go ahead with the announcement despite Motlanthe’s warning.
“The ANC PEC in KwaZulu-Natal will convene a special meeting on Monday to receive a consolidated report from regions regarding the outcome of branch consultations and will on Tuesday make our pronouncement known to the nation,” Mtolo said.
The special provincial executive committee comes a week after regions met to discuss leadership preferences.
The Sunday Times understands that the majority indicated they want Mkhize to stand against President Cyril Ramaphosa. While not all regions are behind Mkhize, none has endorsed a candidate from KZN for the top job, opting for Ramaphosa over Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
eThekwini, Moses Mabhida, Mzala Nxumalo, Harry Gwala, General Gizenga Mpanza and Musa Dladla have agreed to support Mkhize, according to insiders.
“Lower South Coast will also likely endorse Mkhize but they have asked to be given time to conclude branch nominations. Far North has also opted to go that route and we respect that, while the rest of the regions that pronounced are guided by the branches. The PEC will wait for those,”a PEC insider told the Sunday Times.
Far North is now called Nokuhamba Naywo, while Lower South Coast is Tolomane Mnyayiza.
So far, only Inkosi Bambatha region has overwhelmingly supported Ramaphosa for a second term.
Dlamini-Zuma, who enjoyed the majority of support in the previous conference in her home province, has not only lost support of her region, eThekwini, but also Harry
Gwala — where she was born and the region with a municipality named after her.
Those who support her — specifically ward 32 members — raised her name for ANC president.
Approached by the Sunday Times this week to determine the direction of her campaign in the province, many said she did not stand a chance.
“There are regions that want to put her name forward for national chair; there are some that believe her time has passed. While she is one of our best leaders, it is pointless to push her name now as politics has moved on from 2017.
“But we could not look for someone else when we are not satisfied with the leadership we supported while we have her in the branch. The few comrades who speak the same language with us believe she still is the best person to contest Cyril; she comes with no baggage but a clean record,” an insider said.