Dlamini-Zuma, Sisulu, Mabuza out in the cold

ANC national executive committee (NEC) members and presidential hopefuls Lindiwe Sisulu and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma have failed to meet the party nomination threshold for the December elective conference.

Head of the electoral committee Kgalema Motlanthe on Tuesday announced audited nominations for the top six leadership positions. Leading with the highest nominations is the current party president Cyril Ramaphosa with 2 037 against former health minister Zweli Mkhize’s 916 nominations for the ANC top job.

In the same category, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dlamini-Zuma and Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu did not make the cut, leaving them for possible nominations from the floor.

Ramaphosa’s deputy, David Mabuza, also didn’t get the nod.

According to sources in the governing party, Dlamini-Zuma and Sisulu received 81 and 66 nominations respectively. Both got 30 and 47 nominations from Gauteng branches and a few other votes came from provinces such as North West and Western Cape, an insider said.

“KwaZulu-Natal branches didn’t nominate Sisulu at all and Dlamini-Zuma received 24 votes from the province,” said an insider. “Comrades wanted nothing to do with the two, they might be addressing people all over but they do not have support.

“None of the two received a single nomination from the leagues even.”

Sisulu started her campaign early, aligning herself with the radical economic transformation (RET) faction in the ANC, which is also referred to as the “coalition of the wounded” because many either face corruption allegations or criminal charges.

She has attacked the judiciary, the country’s constitution and her boss in recent times.

Last month, she caused a stir in Northern Cape when she travelled to visit former provincial leader John Block in prison.

Sisulu was among six candidates, including Dlamini-Zuma, who entered the 2017 race, but all lost to Ramaphosa, with some withdrawing earlier.

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal, which backs Mkhize, has seemingly permanently turned its back on Dlamini-Zuma.

Former president Jacob Zuma, who enjoys support in the province and among the RET faction, had touted her as the candidate to take on Ramaphosa.

Of the top six positions, branches nominated only two women – ANC general manager Febe Potgieter-Gqubule and NEC member Nomvula Mokonyane.

Potgieter received 905 nominations while Mokonyane garnered 1 779.