ANC W Cape in call for younger NEC

THE ANC in the Western Cape is hoping to leverage its more than 300 delegates at the party’s 54th national conference in December to secure at least eight spots in the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Also, the province wants to deploy younger and more vibrant individuals to represent the Western Cape in the structure, which is the ANC’s highest decision-making body.

Nominations for the ANC’s top six and NEC members started last month with branches in the Western Cape nominating a host of its leaders, including ANC MPL Nomi Nkondlo, Mcebisi Skwatsha, Khaya Magaxa, Lerumo Lekako, and Thandi Mahembehlala, among others.

While the ANC in the Western Cape has previously said it would not pronounce its preferred leadership or slate, most branches have, however, made the call for ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to serve a second term.

Sources have also revealed that KwaZulu-Natal’s former secretary, Mdumiseni Ntuli, remains a firm favourite as branches across the Western Cape continue nominating him for the position of secretary-general.

It emerged in media reports this week Ramaphosa’s caucus, after meeting this week, resolved to back Senzo Mchunu for deputy president and Fikile Mbalula for treasurer general.

Both positions are fiercely contested.

The Western Cape is expected to send about 303 delegates to the province, one of the provinces with a smaller delegation after the Northern Cape.

ANC MPL and Provincial Interim Committee (PIC) member Andile Lili said the plan was to remove “pensioners” in the NEC.

“We want to put new blood there, and that’s why we are pushing for people like Nkondlo because she is young and talented.

“Everyone can see that there is this new generation that is going to take over the ANC. We are seeing (graduates) of the ANC Youth League being nominated,” Lili said.

He said delegates were in agreement the ANC’s NEC must compromise on younger members.

“We don’t want the current leadership to emerge. We want to have a younger NEC than we used to have before, not pensioners who are always a laughing stock because they are sleeping in Parliament. We want new blood, with new ideas that are vibrant,” Lili said.

He added the ideal NEC member would follow up on policy.

Meanwhile, a source in the Boland region (known to Weekend Argus) said a few branches in the Western Cape had been consistent in nominating Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for the position of ANC president.

“A couple of branches have warmed up to the idea of Senzo Mchunu as president. We are seeing this picking up,” the source said.

He said branches also continued to nominate Eastern Cape provincial executive committee member Andile Lungisa for TG, despite the leadership in the province suspending his membership for two years over his 2018 conviction for assaulting a DA councillor during a council meeting.

Lungisa is going up against ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe and former Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina.

Political analyst Professor Zweli Ndevu said the litmus test would be whether those nominated for NEC were up to the task.

| FILE ANC members and supporters wave the party flag.