‘Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma ready to serve under Ramaphosa’
It seems the two are smoking the peace pipe, despite their fierce political battle.
ANC and now SA President Cyril Ramaphosa with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at the ANC conference in Johannesburg in December last year. Picture: AFP
Former ANC presidential candidate Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is ready to serve in any capacity in the ANC government – regardless of who is SA president.
The woman who experts describe as a “woman of substance”, does not want to be linked to party political factions.
She is prepared to serve under Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidency, should he invite her.
As someone who contested the ANC presidency on a neckand-neck and highly factionalised basis against Ramaphosa, it was expected she would adopt an antagonistic attitude towards the new president.
However, it appears the two were smoking a peace pipe. Political analyst André Duvenhage said Dlamini-Zuma is an as tute politician who Ramaphosa would be wise to bring to his side.
“I won’t be surprised if there are behind-the-scenes negotiations to lure her,” Duvenhage said.
According to Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association spokesperson Carl Niehaus, Dlamini-Zuma still refuses to be dragged into factionalism that reared its ugly head before the December ANC national conference Since the conference, she has been quiet about where she stood with regards to Zuma.
“She is doing what she promised to do – to accept the outcomes and move on. You are not likely to hear anything else from Dr Dlamini-Zuma. She is loyal to the ANC,” Niehaus said.
The former African Union Commission chairperson headed ministerial portfolios under Nelson Mandela (health), Thabo Mbeki (foreign affairs) and Zuma (home affairs).
Some suggest Ramaphosa deploy her in a department that desperately needs a turn around, such as Bathabile Dlamini’s social development, Mosebenzi Zwane’s mineral resources and David Mahlobo’s energy.
Political analyst, Dumisani Hlophe from Unisa, concurred, saying Dlamini-Zuma was most likely to be among women to play significant roles in the Ramaphosa government.
“[She] is not a bad person, she is a woman of substance who has a good track record. I am told she advised her people not to build factions around her name,” said Hlophe.
– ericn@citizen.co.za
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