Zuma ‘ s power cracks
PUSH TO OUST PRESIDENT GAINS MOMENTUM
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PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma’s grip on the ANC presidency took a fresh knock as another regional ANC conference delivered a leadership considered to be hostile to his strong ambitions for re-election as party leader.
The influential Nelson Mandela region (Port Elizabeth) retained Nceba Faku as chairman while rejecting the divided Cosatu and the left’s candidates in Zanoxolo Wayile and Mzoleli Mrharha.
Wayile is also the mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
Faku was elected unopposed after Wayile declined nomination after realising that the odds were heavily stacked against him. Mrharha did not even make the cut – failing to muster enough branch nominations to meet the required threshold to contest.
Central to Faku’s successful campaign was the ANC Youth League in the region, partly coordinated by National Youth Development Agency chairman Andile Lungisa – who hails from the area.
Lungisa spent time in the area mobilising support for Faku and even tried to convince Wayile not to contest the chairmanship.
While Faku’s election is seen as being anti-zuma, he is known to be a supporter of ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe.
As news of Faku’s victory spread on Friday night, text messages began flowing between national ANCYL leaders – congratulating their counterparts for having deliv
“ered the conference”.
But as the triumphant Faku grouping celebrated their victory in Port Elizabeth yesterday, Zuma jetted into the province to monitor the work of his Masibambane Rural Development Initiative.
He addressed a gala dinner in East London last night and will visit Peddie and Butterworth.
Zuma’s visit to the Eastern Cape is seen as an effort to consolidate his support in the ANC’S second biggest province – in terms of membership – ahead of the party’s congress in Mangaung in December.
The Eastern Cape has three outstanding regional conferences, including that of its biggest region, OR Tambo, which was instrumental in Zuma’s successful campaign to unseat former president Thabo Mbeki at the 2007 Polokwane conference. OR Tambo broke ranks with the then provincial leadership’s decision to back Mbeki and supported Zuma.
But the region is no longer a homogenous unit, with next month’s congress set to be contested by a Zuma grouping and a so-called “forces of change” faction.
The “forces of change” also delivered a resounding victory at a recent Limpopo provincial conference where incumbent Cassel Mathale was re-elected unopposed.
Limpopo, which is Julius Malema’s stronghold, is likely not to support Zuma’s re-election and already members of the youth league from the province are working hard to ensure that he is ousted. Relations between the national and provincial leadership have further deteriorated following the expulsion of Malema from the ANC.
Limpopo is expected to work with other provinces that do not want Zuma retained as president.
Zuma’s woes are further complicated by the fact that Gauteng may not back his re-election as the province has historically never been pro-zuma.
Even in the run-up to the Polokwane conference in 2007, Gauteng favoured deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe.
Gauteng is also the first province to argue that members have to assess the current leadership capabilities without nominating.
Gauteng has also never forgiven Zuma for overlooking provincial chairman Paul Mashatile by appointing Nomvula Mokonyane as premier.
Mokonyane was later heavily defeated in her bid for provincial chairmanship by pro- Mashatile forces.
Zuma’s chances appear shaky in the Free State too, where the province is set to hold its elective conference next month.
There is already a strong force of
“change ” faction led by Mxolisi Dukwane, which is challenging current chairman and Zuma ally Ace Magashule.
Branch nominations have been completed and both leaders have been nominated.
In the North West, the provincial leadership is divided between chairman Supra Mahumapelo, who is seen to be close to secretary general Mantashe, and provincial secretary Katlego Mataboge, who is close to the ANCYL. Mahumapelo leads a faction that will support Zuma’s and Mantashe’s re-election, while Mataboge will lead a faction calling for Zuma’s head.
However, Zuma can take heart from the fact that his home province of KwazuluNatal seems united about his re-election.
The re-election of David Mabuza as provincial chairman secured Mpumalanga’s support for Zuma, but there are some ANC members who are unhappy with Mabuza, which may see two regions in the province going to Mangaung and support a change in leadership.