Opposition in the ANC coalesces around former health minister Zweli Mkhize, with plans afoot for leading contenders Lindiwe Sisulu and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to pull out of the race for the party presidency to avoid splitting the vote at the impending ...
The ANC PECs of the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo have all backed Ramaphosa for a second term. KwaZulu-Natal was an exception, deciding instead to put Mkhize’s name forward – a snub to Dlamini Zuma, who enjoyed the support of her home province when she ran for the presidency in 2017.
IPC convener and close Ramaphosa ally Mxolisi Dukwana is vying for the position of provincial chairperson, and will have to compete with suspended party Secretary-General Ace Magashule’s allies, Vusi Tshabalala and Premier Sisi Ntombela. Former Mangaung Mayor Thabo Manyoni is also in the running. The extension meant that the matter would not be discussed in Parliament this year – paving the way for Ramaphosa to stand for a second term as ANC president. This was because the report is now set to be released at the end of November, with Parliament scheduled to go on recess the very next day.
While the country has been waiting with bated breath for the findings, the ANC is less perturbed about the possibility of an adverse outcome for Ramaphosa that could lead to his impeachment.Mashatile believes that the matter should be allowed to run its course. He told: “We do not want to pre-empt processes. The National Executive Committee felt that we should wait because there is still an Integrity [Commission] as well.
The party’s NEC had a weekend-long gathering last week to discuss a number of issues that needed to be finalised ahead of the national conference. The party also had an opportunity to discuss the Phala Phala affair, with some senior members demanding answers from Ramaphosa, others calling for his removal and allies defending him.
However, rumours have been doing the rounds that Mashatile might oppose Ramaphosa for the top spot in the party. If he does enter the fray, it could cause an upset for the president and his supporters.“I am staying where I am and, by the way, the nominations have not been made official, so when we open them we will see who is nominated for what and at that point they are going to ask me whether I am accepting,” he said.
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