Mpumalanga ANC supports Ramaphosa and Lamola
A report by the ANC's provincial executive committee suggested that a meeting was convened with David Mabuza, but he seems to have fallen out of the running going into the elective conference.
In an unexpected turn of events, the Mpumalanga ANC has thrown its weight behind the current ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the ANC Youth League graduate, Ronald Lamola.
Ramaphosa seeks a second term in office as the party president, while the Mpumalanga-born Lamola is eyeing the deputy presidency position.
The ANC is scheduled to host its national elective conference in December.
Ramaphosa has received the nod from the provincial ANC, even though he faces a bleak future following a revelation that millions in US currency was allegedly stolen from his Phala Phala Farm, and the fact that he had never declared to the Reserve Bank that he had foreign currency there.
The ANC president was also dealt a heavy blow when the full bench of the Western Cape High Court declared Ramaphosa’s suspension of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane invalid.
Mkhwebane had announced on June 8 her decision to investigate the Phala Phala incident as she was enjoined by law to do. On June 9, however, Ramaphosa suspended Mkhwebane, and the deputy public protector took over her duties.
The ANC’s provincial executive committee (PEC) met last Friday and a resolution to support the two leaders, Ramaphosa and Lamola, was taken.
Surprisingly, the name of the current deputy president, David Mabuza, was not mentioned anywhere in the PEC except in the report that suggested that a meeting with him was convened, and a number of issues were discussed.
“PEC officials met with the deputy president, Cde DD Mabuza, and they had a frank discussion on various issues, including leadership. The deputy president was happy about the visit and expressed his support for the elected PEC,” read the party’s statement released soon afterwards.
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During this meeting, the party’s provincial chairperson, Mandla Ndlovu, cautioned PEC members against expressing political views on social media, which he said is conduct unbecoming of ANC members. He reminded them to conduct themselves in a proper way as they occupy the engine room of the Mpumalanga ANC, and are representing all ANC members and all people of the province.
Ndlovu, however, stated that the leadership issue should be discussed openly in the PEC and in the branches, and as such, members should not be punished for expressing their views. He encouraged them to express their views openly and without any fear.
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Even though the Mpumalanga ANC is not saying anything about Mabuza, there is a slate doing the rounds in social media calling for him to take over as party president, with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as his deputy.
In this slate, Paul Mashatile’s name has been thrown in as party chairperson and Nomvula Mokonyane’s as deputy secretary.
