ANC55: Ramaphosa’s star may be waning as flip-flopping confuses delegates

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidential campaign has hit a pothole as backstabbing and flip-flopping by some of his “loyalists” is causing widespread confusion among delegates and has raised a new threat to his support.

Various reports said Ramaphosa’s key provinces – Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng – had switched sides to back his opponent, Zweli Mkhize.

WATCH: ANC55 delegates react: This is not war, this is democracy

At least some individuals, like ANC Limpopo deputy provincial chair Florence Radzilani and Gauteng PEC member Lebogang Maile, publicly supported Mkhize instead of Ramaphosa.

Radzilani said Limpopo would vote for Mkhize, a view that was immediately repudiated by the provincial leadership as not reflecting their view. The Limpopo PEC rejected Radzilani’s statement, with some saying it was unsurprising coming from a radical economic transformation (RET) member within the PEC.

Radzilani, along with former provincial treasurer Danny Msiza, belonged to the RET faction which backed Mkhize.

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

Gauteng expected to support Mkhize

Maile said Gauteng would support Mkhize for president if KwaZulu-Natal backed Gauteng-born Paul Mashatile for deputy president over NEC member Ronald Lamola and the Eastern Cape’s Oscar Mabuyane.

KZN initially contemplated dumping Mashatile in favour of Mabuyane because Gauteng would not back Mkhize.

Later, a video was posted of current national ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe telling delegates to vote for Mkhize.

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The latest flip-flopping by Gauteng, or at least from such prominent members, posed a threat to Ramaphosa’s support base and victory over Mkhize.

Ramaphosa, whose ancestral home was Limpopo although he was born and received his early education in Gauteng, was guaranteed to beat Mkhize if the three provinces stuck to their original position to back him.

Preparing for a Mkhize victory

Although Ramaphosa was largely expected to win, some within his camp are preparing for a Mkhize victory.

But this pessimistic view was quickly repealed as “impossible”, considering the huge gap in nominations between the two candidates, where Ramaphosa held 2 037 against Mkhize’s 981.

Digital Vibes

Highly placed ANC insiders said even if Mkhize won, he wouldn’t last because the Digital Vibes matter was awaiting him.

“There is a solid case against him, they are just waiting for this conference to be over before they pounce,” a senior party member said on condition of anonymity.

Political analyst Professor Mazwe Majola said the ANC would be saved from its current abyss of decay if delegates elected leaders with capacity to self-correct.

“This is a do-or-die conference for the ANC but also a golden opportunity to turn things around.”

“Will the delegates be bold enough to protect and preserve the organisation from decay? Will the delegates be courageous enough to put the interests of the organisation over individuals?”

He said the conference should emerge with impeccable, irreproachable, diligent and ethical leaders who were ready and willing to serve the people.

“Will the delegates elect appropriate, suitable, responsible, accountable and respectable leaders who will be able to restore and inspire trust? Those leaders should inspire accountability through the ability to accept responsibility without shifting the blame for their actions, decisions and behaviours.”

– ericn@citizen.co.za

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