Deputy President David Mabuza has lost control of the ANC in his stronghold of Mpumalanga, which will make it difficult for him to launch a campaign to be re-elected as deputy president of the party.
Mabuza’s allies lost the race for the Mpumalanga ANC chair to a group that supports President Cyril Ramaphosa’s bid for a second term. Mabuza has not indicated whether he would make himself available for re-election.
His detractors celebrated the defeat of his ally, Lucky Ndinisa, saying the ANC in the province had freed itself from Mabuza’s stranglehold.
The defeat of Mabuza’s faction is a huge boost for Ramaphosa ahead of the ANC national conference scheduled for December. The new chair, Mandla Ndlovu, recently indicated that he would support Ramaphosa’s second-term bid.
The Mpumalanga outcome could also mean that the race for the ANC deputy president position is now wide open.
All party leaders eyeing a position in the ANC top six had an interest in the vote. Deputy presidential candidates Paul Mashatile, former health minister Zweli Mkhize and justice minister Ronald Lamola attended.
Ahead of yesterday’s election there was a shift in the province’s local dynamics when a group that backs Ramaphosa formed an alliance with a group sympathetic to suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule, to form a slate dubbed Focus. Which is why well known Magashule ally Lindiwe Ntshalintshali was elected deputy provincial secretary alongside Ndlovu.
Mkhize’s loyalists hope that Ntshalintshali will lobby for the province to consider him for the top six when they nominate leaders for the December conference. Mashatile hopes that Ndlovu will push for him as a deputy president. Lamola hopes that a pro-Ramaphosa Mpumalanga ANC leadership will opt for him.
A senior leader in Mpumalanga, who asked to be named, said the outcome was a major blow for Mabuza.
“We have defeated him, his people and all his resources,” he said.
Speaking after his election, Ndlovu said he would not stifle dissent in the party and would give people room to raise their views.
Ndlovu said the province was fully behind the leadership of Ramaphosa. The newly elected leadership would decide whether they wanted to announce their preferred candidates for the December conference on the last day of the meeting.
“Even if we don't make a pronouncement tomorrow, the majority of the people in this province ... I think they like the president. They also like the deputy president because they worked with him for a long period,” he said.
Ndlovu in March endorsed Ramaphosa during his visit to the province, asking him to accept nomination from branches for a second term.
Asked if he still held the same view, Ndlovu said he did not necessarily endorse Ramaphosa but had asked him to not disappoint branches that want him to be re-elected.
Ndlovu has a strained relationship with Mabuza. Yesterday he cautioned those who believed it was an outright war, saying it was impossible that he and Mabuza were not on speaking terms.
Ntshalintshali said they would work on ending factionalism in the province.
With Mabuza ousted, it now seems the battle in the provincial executive will be between Magashule and Ramaphosa's supporters, though the latter is said to be enjoying most support.
“There was a time where comrades felt that sometimes they were not able to express their freedom of choice as per the constitution. Here people expressed their choice through a ballot. It tells you that branches must put leadership in place that is not agreed somewhere and imposed on. This product they own,” she said.
Those around Ntshalintshali said she would work on turning the rest of the top five leaders towards supporting Magashule. It is believed there are two others in the top five that are sympathetic to Magashule.
The elated victors were, however, adamant that they had released themselves from the shackles of Mabuza’s leadership in the province that would represent them at the national conference in December.
With Mabuza ousted, it now seems the battle in the provincial executive will be between Magashule and Ramaphosa's supporters, though the latter is said to be enjoying most support.
Mabuza has played his cards close to his chest and it’s not known if he will contest at the conference for a second term as deputy president.
Speedy Mashilo was elected deputy provincial chairperson with 505 votes, beating David Nhlabathi, a Mabuza backer. Muzi Chirwa was elected provincial secretary, beating staunch Mabuza ally Pat Ngomane.
Murder accused Mandla Msibi was elected Mpumalanga provincial treasurer in absentia. He is affected by the step-aside rule due to his ongoing case.
Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the closing address at the conference in Emalahleni.
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