North West may humble Ramaphosa
AS THE ANC’s internal processes are unfolding countrywide, from branches to provinces, President Cyril Ramaphosa seems to be on the winning side in a couple of provinces but not in the North West.
According to the results of the recent branch elections across the province, it is clear that Supra Mahumapelo will give the other two factions a run for their money.
It is professed that there are three factions within the ANC in the North West, is Supra-Macy (Supremacy) which consists of Mahumapelo, N12 which consists of Nono Maloyi as its desired chairperson, and the CR17 which has the premier as the desired chairperson.
The ANC in the troubled province failed to elect permanent structures since the unceremonial removal of Mahumapelo in 2018. The ANC’s Hlomani Chauke was appointed to be the convener of an interim structure that would prepare for the elections of all the party’s structures but he failed. In his head, he might have thought he was the party’s provincial leader.
Mahumapelo remains popular in his home province and stands a good chance to be brought back, through the backdoor.
Many of his backers are running municipalities and are placed in other strategic positions in the public sector. Unlike his allies (Jacob Zuma, Ace Magashule, and Zandile Gumede), Mahumapelo has never been charged with a crime. The only time he goes to court is when he took the ANC to reverse some of the decisions against him and when he supports his friends.
Premier Bushy Maape is not as popular as Mahumapelo, especially within his own political party, many are not aware of the man’s political credentials, and nobody knows him. Another challenger for the position of chairpersonship, Maloyi, does not come close to matching the calibre of Mahumapelo.
Mahumapelo has the same influence in the North West as has in KwaZulu-Natal. He is worshipped despite corruption allegations and incompetence during his time as the premier.
Like many other rural provinces (Limpopo, the Eastern Cape, the Northern Cape), the ANC in the North West has based its dominance or support on the villages and farms where black people reside.
The black peasants have proved not to seek a revolution since apartheid, they prefer and prioritise stability over any other things, and they like to have peace even at the expense of freedom.
Despite their deteriorating livelihoods, they are prepared to go and support the likes of Mahumapelo in a bid to seek stability.
Re-electing Mahumapelo or others has nothing to do with building a capable state, it has got everything to do with seeking peace by minimising the political tension.
The debate, discussions, and deliberations within the ANC today are about slate factions, there are no ideological, policy, or politically driven factions. It is clearly about who is going to have power and access to public resources in order to fill their own pockets. It could be safely said all candidates were the same – no one wants to do it for the people.
Although it is sad, it is inevitable that we will spend the rest of this year talking about the coming elective conference of the ANC which will further deepen the divisions of the once glorious movement.
Those who lose the conference will continue to harass those who won, and others may be victimised for having supported different candidates, which means that unity and cohesion are elusive and idealistic.