ANC celebration: A call by Zuma

MBOMBELA – National chairperson, Ms Baleka Mbete, will deliver the keynote address.

Members should expect a tough warning after the president, Mr Jacob Zuma told structures and individuals not to pronounce their preferred leadership candidates ahead of the organisation’s processes.

Read: ANC concerned about the election outcome

Zuma sounded this stern warning when he was addressing another provincial birthday celebration in Limpopo on Sunday. He expressed disapproval of the undermining of the organisation’s processes in choosing candidates to succeed him during the elective conference set to take place in December.

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Names that have been put forward include Ms Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, Ms Baleka Mbete, Mr Gwede Mantashe, Mr Jeff Radebe, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, the premiers from Mpumalanga, Free State, and North West, Mr David Mabuza, Mr Ace Magashola, and Mr Supra Mahumapelo.

Former treasurer general and premier of Mpumalanga, Mr Mathews Phosa, has also had his name doing the rounds.
Zuma said, “The time to pronounce candidate names hasn’t come yet.

It is only through branch processes that names can be pronounced. That hasn’t happened yet. Members should also look to a broader spectrum of people when making choices, not necessarily among ourselves. What counts is a qualitative leadership that should be decided upon by the people.”

The ANC Women’s League nationally declared itself on the eve of the national birthday celebrations two weeks ago, making it known that it supports Dlamini-Zuma as its preferred candidate for the presidency. It was quickly seconded by the youth league.

Meanwhile, provincial spokesperson, Ms Sasekani Manzini, announced on Monday that preparations are on course for the ANC Mpumalanga January 8 Rally to celebrate the ANC anniversary and the life of our long-serving president, Mr OR Tambo, to be held on Sunday.

“We wish to reiterate our stance that it takes a movement of a very special mould to achieve 105 years of struggle, and this colossal achievement can only be best celebrated in Mbombela Stadium, which is the biggest venue we have in the province for the gathering of this magnitude.

“As a build-up to the main celebration this week, our mobilisation teams, which will be led by Provincial Executive Committee members, will be conducting extensive door-to-door campaigns and hold mini-rallies at the shopping centres, taxi, and bus ranks in the four regions using our canvassing machinery.

“Working with our alliance partners, we are hoping to host magnitudes of ANC members coming from all over the province, as well as visitors from other provinces and from our neighbouring countries.

Buses and taxis have been arranged to transport people from the four regions to Mbombela Stadium. We are encouraging those who are interested in attending to go to their various pick-up points in order to catch their transport on time. Comrades may contact their branches with regard to transport arrangements.

“We wish to confirm that the ANC national chairperson, Ms Baleka Mbete, has been deployed to give a keynote address during the celebration. Our alliance partners will also give their messages of support,” she said.

The gates at the stadium will be opened at 06:00 and proceedings will commence at 10:00.