Can Zweli Mkhize save the ANC and South Africa?

Zweli Mkhize’s supporters are adamant he is the best man for the job and could save the ANC and ultimately the country.

Though the battle appear to be between incumbent ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa and former ANC treasurer and health, Mkhize, sitting treasurer and acting secretary Paul Mashatile is gaining ground in the battle for control of the ANC as the weeks draw closer to the the 55th conference.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has backed Mkhize.

Mafika Ndebele, the provincial spokesperson for KZN, said the allegations against Mkhize were unsubstantiated rumours.

"There are no charges against Dr Zweli Mkhize, there is also no investigation against him," Ndebele said.

He said the allegations against Mkhize were a childhood fairy tale.

The Special Investigating Unit is investigating Mkhize for his involvement in the awarding of a R150 million communications tender to Digital Vibes during the Covid-19 pandemic. The matter led to his resignation as health minister and is currently in court.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa is accused of violating financial exchange controls and trying to cover up the burglary at his Limpopo farm, Phala Phala, where foreign currency was stolen.

But Ndebele said KwaZulu-Natal had chosen Mkhize as its preferred candidate after carefully assessing the state of the ANC.

"We are losing support and we are losing the trust of the people, we are in need of leaders who are going to work, and we cannot help but remember that KZN was the last province to be liberated in South Africa, and comrades like Jacob Zuma and Zweli Mkhize worked tirelessly to end the violence," Ndebele said.

Ndebele added that Mkhize was among the members of the provincial cabinet who were behind the re-branding of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal when he was MEC.

He said Mkhize at the time was able to build support for the ANC at the time as he was a quality cadre.

"We are facing that situation again and our obvious choice will be seasoned people who have experience and understand the challenges that the movement is facing," Ndebele said.

He added that Mkhize had proven himself when he resigned as health minister due to the digital vibes scandal.

Political analyst Professor Andre Duvenhage likened the race for the ANC leadership to two dogs fighting over a bone when one dog was running away with the bone.

"The third in this case is Paul Mashatile," Duvenhage said.

He said Mkhize’s candidacy was haunted by his involvement in the Digital Vibes scandal.

"It has become very clear that the stronger opposition will come from Mashatile because Mkhize has unfinished business such as digital vibes hanging over his head."

"When it comes to moral fibre, Ramaphosa is better than Mkhize, even though there is the Phala Phala scandal," Duvenhage said.

Duvenhage said Mkhize might leverage his KZN support to forge an alliance with other opponents, including Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Lindiwe Sisulu, to challenge Ramaphosa.

"I am not seeing Mkhize as a strong competitor because he seems to only have the support of KwaZulu-Natal and that is not going to be enough. For Mkhize to win, he will need to form an alliance; otherwise, he won’t stand a chance.

Duvenhage further predicted that Mkhize, who presently does not occupy any powerful position, would settle for any other position in the top six.

Weekend Argus

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