Mabuza’s decision stirs speculation, hope

AS THE fight for the top positions in the ANC intensified yesterday with David Mabuza pulling out of Parliament where he was expected to be sworn in, speculation continues to mount on who will be revealed as the country’s second in charge after Saturday’s inauguration.

President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected unopposed in the National Assembly, but questions remained on the future of his deputy.

In a day of drama in Parliament, former environmental affairs minister Nomvula Mokonyane quit her position as House chairperson. ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule said Mokonyane would be deployed at Luthuli House. She had been appointed House chairperson by the national executive committee early in the week. She joined Baleka Mbete and Malusi Gigaba in declining to take a seat in Parliament.

Ramaphosa had released a statement earlier that Mabuza postponed his swearing-in to approach the Integrity Commission to clear his name.

The commission fingered Mabuza and several other leaders of the ANC.

Chairperson of the Integrity Commission George Mashamba said they would meet all 22 people who had been identified in the report. He said he would not comment as to whether Mabuza would still be appointed deputy president, saying it was the decision of the ANC.

ANC head of the presidency Zizi Kodwa said only the president of the party was guaranteed a position in the Cabinet and not others.

He refused to comment on speculation that a woman could possibly take over as deputy president.

“The request for postponement is not a decision of appointing a deputy of the republic. It is only the president who will make the decision at the weekend,” he said.

It has been speculated that Minister of Higher Education Naledi Pandor and Minister in the Presidency Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma were being considered for deputy president. Independent Media reported two weeks ago that Minister of International Relations Lindiwe Sisulu was also favoured for the job.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac) yesterday described Mabuza’s decision to pull out as a good sign.

Outa chairperson Wayne Duvenage said Mabuza’s decision could be genuine for a number of reasons.

“It could be genuine because the new style of leadership requires that where people are implicated, they must step back,” said Duvenage.

Casac executive secretary Lawson Naidoo said any National Assembly member could become the deputy president. “There have been calls from the public for the ANC to do this, for people who are implicated to step aside. The issue is why it took so long,” he said.