ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa’s bid for an unopposed re-election to a second term appears to be gaining ground, with three major political developments giving him a boost this week.
This while his opponents in the so-called radical economic transformation (RET) grouping seem to be disintegrating with one blow after the other.
Ramaphosa’s faction was bolstered this week after it convinced the party’s national executive committee (NEC), its highest decision-making organ, to take a harder stance in implementing the organisation’s step-aside rule.
This culminated in the NEC resolving to bar all party members affected by the rule from contesting positions.
ANC leaders opposed to the decision say the resolution is a shortcut by the Ramaphosa faction to eliminate challengers before December. Leaders most likely to be affected by the decision include suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, who is said to be the RET grouping’s hope to mount a challenge against Ramaphosa.
“That’s an illegal decision. The NEC, here I think, erred. We erred in coming to this decision. It was highly emotional so that the people who will stand in December must be prevented,” said an ANC NEC mole.
While Ramaphosa’s detractors were crying foul, he secured further support in the Eastern Cape, regardless of which faction wins when that province convenes its provincial conference next weekend.
This comes after provincial chair candidate Babalo Madikizela this week vouched for a Ramaphosa second term. Supporters of former health minister Zweli Mkhize previously claimed that Madikizela backed him.
“I have always been openly supporting president Ramaphosa. I really have no idea who planted this narrative that I am backing Zweli [Mkhize] because I never said that,” said Madikizela.
“President Ramaphosa deserves a chance because he has managed to lead the country well under the most difficult times. Even the project of the renewal of the ANC that he is leading, when fully implemented correctly, has the potential to make society regain confidence in the ANC.”
Madikizela’s opponent, Oscar Mabuyane, is a known Ramaphosa ally who has also reiterated his support for the president’s bid for a second term.
President Ramaphosa is one president who lifted a finger to ensure that the renewal of the ANC is not just lip service
— Oscar Mabuyane
“President Ramaphosa is one president who lifted a finger to ensure that the renewal of the ANC is not just lip service,” said Mabuyane.
The RET forces may face further setbacks in the province after ANC provincial spokesperson Loyiso Magqashela said the party understood that Andile Lungisa, a staunch RET supporter contesting for provincial treasurer on Madikizela’s slate, was a parolee and might not be eligible to stand.
“The issue is that he is a parolee. A parolee is still a convict because you continue to visit the police station to give a report until his sentence is complete. For as long as you are still under that supervision, you are still [a convict]. But national will give us guidance,” Magqashela said.
On the national stage Ramaphosa gained further ground this week after the Bathabile Dlamini-led ANC Women's League (ANCWL) national executive committee (NEC) was disbanded and she was excluded from the interim national task team set up to oversee regional and provincial conferences of the women’s league ahead of its national conference.
Dlamini is a known adversary of Ramaphosa and key member of the RET faction.
Members of the RET faction claim the decision to exclude Dlamini from the task team was a calculated move to paralyse their faction beyond recovery.
“I hold no brief for the women’s league NEC but it is so glaring what the intention here is,” said a member who attended the meeting that sealed Dlamini’s fate.
“Some things are wrong and unacceptable, really. This decision can’t be justified. It’s wrong. They said officials must decide on the names of those who will serve in the task team. They said it must be people who do not have an interest to contest.”
— Additional reporting by Mawande AmaShabalala
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