International relations minister Naledi Pandor’s role in trying to stop the Middle East conflict has made her so popular that some in the ANC believe she could help the party win back the Western Cape from the DA.
The Sunday Times reported last week that party leaders at Luthuli House want Pandor to keep her position after the elections, but it has emerged that some leaders in the Western Cape ANC want Pandor to rescue the party in the province.
Other names being considered are ANC provincial spokesperson Khalid Sayed, who is also a member of the provincial legislature, and provincial deputy secretary and MPL Ayanda Bans.
As we have seen with the genocide in Gaza, the ANC is still a global leader in fighting injustice. That fight continues in the Western Cape too. We are engaging communities on the ground such as in Hanover Park and Heideveld, which are traditional DA base areas where the ANC is being very well received
— Neville Delport, ANC Western Cape secretary
Several sources said Pandor’s nomination was meant to capitalise on her popularity in the province’s Muslim community, especially in light of her efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict.
A provincial leader who spoke on condition of anonymity said the party needs a candidate who will reignite its base and also appeal to the middle class.
Provincial secretary Neville Delport confirmed that the province has nominated three candidates who will be interviewed by the party’s top-seven leadership.
Delport said Pandor was nominated by members who believe she would “swing the vote” because of the governing DA’s failures.
“As we have seen with the genocide in Gaza, the ANC is still a global leader in fighting injustice. That fight continues in the Western Cape too. We are engaging communities on the ground such as in Hanover Park and Heideveld, which are traditional DA base areas where the ANC is being very well received,” he said.
Delport added that they were confident that after years of “DA failures” and the positive vision of the future offered by the ANC, the party will do well in this year’s elections.
“Our national message of ‘Let’s Do More — Together’ has huge significance in our province. We continue to strive for equality and fairness, jobs and opportunity for all, better education and health care, improved safety and security and decent housing,” he said.
In Gauteng, the ANC is most likely to field Panyaza Lesufi as its candidate for premier. He will go head to head with the DA’s Solly Msimanga, the EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Funzi Ngobeni of ActionSA. Lesufi leads the ANC’s Gauteng list of candidates to the provincial legislature, placing him in prime position for the nomination, and is followed by Nomantu Ralehoko, who is also rumoured to be eyeing the position of premier.
Limpopo is expected to have its first female premier after the ANC leaders are said to have agreed that the health MEC in the province, Phophi Ramathuba, will be their candidate. She tops the list of candidates to the provincial legislature. The ANC enjoys majority support in the province. Ramathuba, however, is facing opposition internally, with some supporting provincial ANC treasurer Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana. Provincial deputy chair Florence Radzilani also has supporters, as does minister of co-operative governance & traditional affairs Thembi Nkadimeng.
According to sources in the ANC, KwaZulu-Natal, the North West and Mpumalanga are proving to be difficult for the party. In KwaZulu-Natal the incumbent, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, is expected to get another bite at the premiership, but provincial chair Siboniso Duma is also said to be eyeing the position. Duma leads the provincial candidate list for the legislature while Dube-Ncube is 31st on the list. Duma could also face a challenge from his deputy, health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu. The DA will field Umngeni mayor Chris Pappas, who will also take on the IFP’s Thami Ntuli and ActionSA’s Zwakele Mncwango.
In Mpumalanga, ANC provincial chair Mandla Ndlovu is vying to become premier, but he is facing a challenge from Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane.
In the North West, the ANC is searching for a premier candidate after its chair, Nono Maloyi, informed the party that he was not interested in standing for the position. Incumbent Bushy Maape is expected to bow out due to health reasons. Maape did not make the list of candidates to the provincial legislature from which a premier is elected. The ANC candidate will go up against ActionSA’s Kgosi Kwena Mangope.
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