Zungu does not want to rock the boat in KZN
Businessman withdraws from chairmanship race
Kwazulu-natal-born businessman and owner of Amazulu Football Club Sandile Zungu, who made a U-turn on the ANC provincial leadership race, has conceded that his availability would have proven disruptive in the prevailing political establishment and status quo in the province.
Zungu, who had received the nod from the party’s Radical Economic Transformation faction in KZN, would have gone head-to-head with current MEC for finance Nomusa Dube, who has been endorsed by the provincial ANC Women’s League to challenge premier Sihle Zikalala in an elective conference to be held on a date yet to be announced. Both Dube and Zungu are the preferred candidates for the RET forces who want Zikalala out of political office at all costs.
Zungu told Sunday World this week that before he arrived at his decision, he met former president Jacob Zuma, former health minister Zweli Mkhize and Willies Mchunu, the former KZN premier.
He also had a private session with Inkosi Mduduzi “Unyazi Lwezulu” Shembe, who leads the ebuhleni church faction with more than 5-million followers.
“There were a lot of people who approached me and expressed concern that my approach and entering the ring prospectively would have proven very disruptive to the establishment and to the plans. But I must say nobody specifically said that if I stood, Nomusa’s prospects would have been minimised. Having said this, I realised that it is quite clear to me that entering the campaign for chairmanship of the ANC in KZN is not the most opportune at this time.”
This paper reported that the 54-yearold businessman was keen to join the race, saying should he throw his hat in the ring, it would be to win the contest.
A senior ANC leader in the province, who is not authorised to speak to the media, said Zungu was told not to avail himself for the position because the KZN political climate was muddied and that it would taint his good image.
“Apart from standing in the way for comrade Nomusa, he was told that he must be prepared to fork out a lot of money for campaigning. As you’re aware, there is a lot of money that goes around to influence branches and delegates to the conference. I assume he realised that it wasn’t worth it,” said the senior leader.
With KZN as the biggest voting block, party president Cyril Ramaphosa would count on its backing for his ambitions to be re-elected at the party’s December conference. The RET will also be keen to win the province for its own survival.
The victory will also ensure that the faction aligned to Zuma and suspended party secretary Ace Magashule gives Ramaphosa a run for his money in what is expected to be a watershed conference.