David Mabuza may still rise from the floor

David Mabuza may still have a shot at the ANC presidency.
That is if his backers in the province succeed to nominate him when the party hosts its 55th national conference scheduled for December 16 to 20 in Nasrec, Johannesburg.
According to the recently released nomination list, Mabuza did not garner enough support to secure a spot in the ballot.
The current party president, Cyril Ramaphosa, and former health minister, Zweli Mkhize, are the only nominated individuals and the top two candidates to stand for the presidency.
Both leaders have a dark cloud hanging over them. Ramaphosa’s future is still uncertain and he could face parliamentary impeachment following his Phala Phala Farm scandal if he does not resign. Calls for him to step down continue to pile up.
The Section 89 independent panel, chaired by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, had just released a report in which it detailed that Ramaphosa may have a case to answer to.

ALSO READ: Mpumalanga Department of Social Development heads campaign against GBV

At the time going to press, the ANC’s National Executive Committee had not yet communicated its outcomes and recommendations on this matter.
Mkhize may still face criminal charges after he was implicated in the awarding of a R150m communications tender to Digital Vibes during the Covid-19 pandemic, which later led to his resignation as health minister.
The ANC’s head of the electoral committee, Kgalema Montlanthe, announced that Ramaphosa received 2 037 nominations, while Mkhize bagged 916. For the deputy presidency, Mpumalanga’s Ronald Lamola secured 427 nominations.
The party’s Provincial Executive Committee in Mpumalanga is on record as backing both Ramaphosa and Lamola respectively.
Mabuza’s backers, who questioned the credibility of the nomination processes, told this paper that ‘the Cat’ will have to emerge from the floor.
However, the party’s current acting secretary, Paul Mashatile, told SABC News last Monday, November 28, that he did not foresee a situation in which candidates would be nominated on the floor during conference.
Those supporting Ramaphosa in the province have also argued that the odds are against Mabuza, even if his backers succeed in nominating him from the floor.

ALSO READ: University of Mpumalanga lecture honours Archbishop Makgoba

They argued that Mabuza’s support has dwindled, even in his own province, rendering his chances of making it to the party’s driver’s seat even more slim.
On Friday, the Mpumalanga ANC held its special provincial general council at Ingwenyama Sports and Conference Resort in White River, and the party’s deputy chairperson, Speedy Mashilo, said its stance has not changed.
He said they still believed in Ramaphosa and are going to support him with Lamola as his deputy.
Mashilo said they are continuing to lobby other provinces to support their preferred candidates.
Unlike in the 54th conference in December 2017, when the province showed a united front and successfully delivered Mabuza as the party’s second-in-command, this time around, they travel to Nasrec a divided team.