Almost 48 hours behind schedule and after much caucusing, cajoling and horse-trading, the incoming ANC top officials were finally officially nominated early on Sunday. Voting was scheduled from 9am on Sunday morning.
The presidential nominations were not in doubt. Cyril Ramaphosa was named for a second term as party president, as was Zweli Mkhize, the former premier, health MEC, minister and one-time party treasurer.
For secretary-general, nominations were for Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, Phumulo Masualle, also deputy public enterprises minister, and ousted KwaZulu-Natal ANC secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli. Song erupted amid the counting, and if volume levels were anything to go by, the anti-Ramaphosa “chaaange” or “load shedding” grouping had the floor.
Nominations for leadership positions were meant to have happened on Friday, after the president’s political report, acceptance of 4,433 voting delegates credentials, the organisational report and the financials. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Angie Motshekga during nominations of the top seven at Nasrec expo at the 55th National Conference on 18 December 2022. Photo: Felix Dlangamandla/Daily Maverick
News emerged that 321 delegates from KwaZulu-Natal would stay with Ramaphosa, and that the Friday night caucuses with Limpopo and Mpumalanga failed to get Mkhize the necessary support. And what about Mantashe, who deployed craftiness and bullying on behalf of Ramaphosa? He’s again in the running as national chairperson against Mathabatha. But Limpopo is divided, and Mathabatha could be ditched as national chairperson candidate without too much damage – depending how the top official slates go in what camp.
Mkhize’s side kept up the confidence on Saturday, also on display at the Nasrec grounds. Ramaphosa’s side seemed hesitant, then confident and then not so much.
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