More candidates in mix for ANC leader
THE race to succeed President Jacob Zuma as leader of the ANC no longer seems to be a clear two-horse affair as several developments at the party’s national policy conference point to surprise candidates coming into the mix.
The two dominant factions in the ANC have thrown their support behind either Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma or Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, but the ground is shifting, giving way to other leaders.
Among these are ANC chairwoman Baleka Mbete and ANC Mpumalanga chairman David Mabuza.
Suggestions also arose for a unifying slate in which the losing candidate automatically becomes the party’s deputy president, but were defeated by delegates.
Mbete met with supporters on Monday night in Mondeor, Johannesburg, where she was officially endorsed.
One of the leaders of the campaign, Buda Tsotetsi, said Mbete had indicated she was available to stand for party president as she had been approached by several structures and branches.
Those running the campaign are supporters of Zuma but said they had no confidence in Dlamini-Zuma.
Tsotetsi said the group had compiled a list of people they believed should serve under Mbete and would start engaging them after the conference.
They included Mabuza, Fikile Mbalula, Lindiwe Sisulu and Thandi Modise.
They were considering Tokyo Sexwale or Paul Mashatile for treasurer-general.
It is understood that Zuma instructed Mabuza to meet Mbete to discuss a possible collaboration, but it is not clear whether that meeting took place.
During the heated debate on ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe’s diagnostic report, said to have almost collapsed the conference, Mabuza stepped in to broker a peace deal after one of his delegates objected to it.
One of the leaders of Mbete’s campaign said the National Assembly Speaker was likely to have the support of an unnamed “undivided province” that had not yet pronounced on a leader, whom they had been lobbying.
Mpumalanga is the only province seen as undivided and is still to pronounce its choice of leadership.
Only one province has stated its preferences – the Northern Cape, for Ramaphosa.
ANC treasurergeneral Zweli Mkhize, who for now is aligned to Ramaphosa, made himself accessible at the policy conference, adding weight to suggestions he has his own ambitions for the top office.
He has been a voice of reason and reassurance for business in a tumultuous period for the economy.
Mkhize has in the past also expressed sentiments that appeared in Mantashe’s contentious diagnostic report, which was scathing of scandals involving Zuma.
Ramaphosa earlier this week threw his support behind the report, saying it would enrich discussions at the conference.