ANC55: All eyes on ANC leadership race after voting got underway

Horsetrading and head counting continued on the third day of the ANC elective conference as the two main factions each vied to emerge victorious.

Following tension-filled nominations that ran into the early hours of Sunday, groups held separate meetings around the venue, ensuring that delegates toed the line.

The RET faction aligned with hopeful president Zweli Mkhize and one led by his opponent, Cyril Ramaphosa posted campaigns across social media platforms, with each claiming victory.

After receiving messages of support on Sunday, delegates went into commissions to further tackle policies drafted at the July policy conference.

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Voting was supposed to start at 9am to run concurrently with the commissions, but as it has been the norm at the conference, it got underway only in the afternoon.

Separate provinces went into booths to cast their votes, with Limpopo going in just after 4pm.

Ramaphosa group ‘rejected us’

In an about-turn that characterises the governing party’s elective conferences, Limpopo deputy chairperson and corruption-accused Florence Radzilani told Newzroom Afrika that the province has switched allegiances, and dumped Ramaphosa for Mkhize.

She said despite first endorsing Ramaphosa, Paul Mashatile as his deputy, Mathabatha as chairperson and Nomvula Mokonyane as deputy secretary-general, engagements continued at the venue.

“That was our stance. I was assigned responsibility to lead the delegation, and when branches arrived here we told them engagements continue.

“In the engagements, we felt rejected. Ramaphosa’s group rejected all other candidates we were sponsoring as Limpopo. To them Limpopo was only supposed to say ‘Ramaphosa’ and that it.”

She said Mathabatha was not on the Ramaphosa slate and thus, they had to talk to other provinces.

Other provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal agreed to onboard Mathabatha, leading to Limpopo endorsing Mkhize, she said.

“Branches themselves decided yesterday. And I addressed them along with provincial and regional leaders, and they all said they wanted Mathabatha in top 7.”

Radzilani described Mkhize as a “seasoned leader” of the ANC.

Mathabatha publicly backed Ramaphosa even before ANC leadership nominations started.

VBS Bank ‘heist’ allegations

The former Vhembe mayor and former provincial ANC treasurer Danny Masiza were implicated in R2 billion graft, and were fingered in The Great Bank Heist report commissioned by the SA Reserve Bank.

The Vhembe municipality lost R300 million deposited in VBS while Radzilani was at the helm. According to the VBS report, she was allegedly given R300 000 bribe for depositing municipal funds. She was said to have “cried” that juniors were “given R1.5 million but her share was only R300 000.”

Msiza was described in the report as the “fixer” who collected commissions from VBS.

Radzilani and Msiza stepped aside as per ANC policy, but she made a return and was elected chairperson at this year’s provincial conference.

Mathabatha consequently reshuffled his cabinet and appointed her transport MEC.

Watch: ANC delegates react to how voting is going at ANC 55th National Conference

READ MORE: ANC55: Limpopo denies it has deserted Ramaphosa for Mkhize