BATTLE FOR ANC NEC rejects SOUL HOTS UP Malema
IF this week’s ANC national executive committee meeting is anything to go by, South Africans must brace themselves for months of long knives as ANC factions engage in gigantic battles that are set to reach a dramatic climax in December.
With only six months left before the ANC convenes its elective national conference, signs have begun to emerge that Mangaung is going to be a do or die”
“situation for the ruling party’s top elite. It appears the end is going to be politically bitter for the losers.
Internal factional battles for the soul of the party ahead of the much awaited gathering were evident at last Monday ’ s special NEC meeting where the ANC Youth League petition, requesting a review of the expulsion from the party of Julius Malema and the suspension of Sindiso Magaqa and Floyd Shivambu, was discussed.
Bitter words were exchanged between some ANC leaders over whether to allow or reject such a review, Sunday World was told.
Granting a review would have handed the Malema faction an upper hand in the run up to Mangaung, and ANC president Jacob Zuma would have gone to the Free State capital limping, as that would have meant his grip on the most important and powerful ANC structure had already faltered.
When the review was rejected, it was not only the youth league which lost the battle, but several other senior leaders.
Sunday World was told that defiant ANCYL deputy president Ronald Lamola, who attended in his capacity as acting youth league president, told the NEC that he was there because Malema could not attend.
He was apparently almost kicked out of the meeting. Some members objected, asking if his statement meant he has not accepted the ANC’s national disciplinary committee’s expulsion of Malema from the ANC. He was reportedly forced to apologise or leave the meeting. He chose the former option.
ANC leaders who had the courage to join the contest, according to insiders, included Nathi Mthethwa, Fikile Mbalula, Malusi Gigaba, Nomvula Mokonyane, Tony Yengeni, Blade Nzimande, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Tokyo Sexwale.
The fight might appear to be over Malema, but it was about who holds an upper political hand in the bumpy road to Mangaung, where Zuma will seek re-election as ANC president and, by extension, the country’s too.
Zuma’s opponents are pushing for his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe to replace him, and Sexwale seems ready to enter the race if Motlanthe is not willing to take on Zuma. No wonder Sexwale supported the review of Malema’s expulsion. Motlanthe is said to have spoken only when Zuma asked him to explain the responsibility of the NEC with regard to the petition in line with the ANC constitution. According to sources, Sexwale argued that the youth league deserved to be given a hearing.
Yengeni and Nzimande locked horns in a heated debate that saw the latter leaving the room, while Dlamini-Zuma said there was no need for a review as Malema had started a parallel structure – Friends of the Youth League.
Zuma delivered a severe parting shot when he told the meeting he now considered the youth league matter closed.
The meeting also took place in the week that Zuma fired Bheki Cele as police commissioner. Cele, however, warned that he hopes Zuma “has insurance”.
Though Zuma appears to be currently leading the Mangaung race, Sexwale is hard at work with his campaign, which has been centred around the Eastern Cape. Motlanthe has kept his cards close to his chest and his supporters are growing impatient.
Zuma has in the past two weeks addressed ANC rallies and trade union meetings. He has attended service delivery problems using government programmes. On Thursday he travelled by train from Pretoria to Johannesburg and interacted with commuters.
Sexwale will speak at the AB Xuma lecture in Alexandra today, while Motlanthe will address the ANC’s provincial general council in the Eastern Cape.
It remains to be seen if Zuma has enough fire power in his arsenal to propel him to a second term, or if his opponents possess enough artillery to sustain their mutiny.