ANC in Western Cape to put forward younger, vibrant candidates for NEC
Cape Town - Over the next few weeks, provinces are expected to unveil consolidated lists of nominations for the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) ahead of the party’s congress in December.
And though the ANC in the Western Cape has revealed it has opted to nominate from the floor, some of the names that have been thrown around include Thandi Mahambehlala, Nomi Nkondlo, Jabu Mfusi, and Ibrahim Rasool.
Nominations for the ANC’s highest decision-making body closed this week. Wheeling and dealing among delegates is expected to kick off as they try to persuade each other to support them.
Some of the names were included in the ANC Youth League’s list of nominated names released this week.
Meanwhile, incumbent ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa appears to be leading on the nomination front.
Analysts have reiterated that though the Phala Phala scandal hangs over his head, Ramaphosa is poised for a second term.
Lindiwe Sisulu, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Dr Zweli Mkhize and, most recently, Deputy President David Mabuza have all put their hands up to challenge Ramaphosa.
According another analyst, Professor Zweli Ndevu, the majority of the names nominated by Western Cape branches were former youth league leaders.
Ndevu said this could work in their favour as the former youth league leaders can reach out to their counterparts in other provinces for support.
“This is something they might leverage, and they might actually succeed in sneaking them into the NEC,” Ndevu said.
Ndevu said any names put forward by the ANC in the Western Cape could only make it into the 80-member structure as additional members.
He said he was also expecting to see names of older members such as Tony Yengeni and Nomaindia Mfeketho, depending on who they support, and that all eyes in the coming weeks would be glued to Ramaphosa’s slate.
Another analyst, Sipho Seepe, also said the nature of the ANC’s election process was “rigged to favour the incumbent”.
“Despite his dismal failure to lead both the ANC and government,” Seepe said, “Ramaphosa stands a good chance of being re-elected.”
He said Ramaphosa’s opponents had been painted so badly in the media space that they didn’t stand a chance.
“All that is needed is to spew allegations against individuals and ensure that law enforcement acts with speed. This has had a chilling effect not only on those that want to contest, but it extends also to their supporters,” Seepe said.
He said that structures that would have posed a significant threat had been disbanded.
Seepe was referring to the ANC Youth League, the ANC Women’s League, and the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA). The structures have all been disbanded and are under the control of task teams. The MKMVA has been replaced by the Umkhonto we Sizwe Liberation War Veterans, a newly formed structure.
“Unless something drastic happens that relates to Phala Phala, this is an easy victory for Ramaphosa. Hell will only start after that,” Seepe said.
Seepe was referring to the robbery on Ramaphosa’s Limpopo farm that is being probed by an independent parliamentary panel.
The matter will also be the subject of debate at a special NEC meeting this weekend as the ANC’s integrity committee is expected to table its report on Phala Phala.