Some of Ramaphosa’s NEC may derail his anti-corruption mission

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s hand may have been further strengthened with the announcement of the 80-member ANC national executive committee (NEC) that contains a large number of his allies, but an analyst believes individuals tainted by corruption on the list could block Ramaphosa’s anti-corruption mission.

With five of the top seven officials from his camp, the fact that more than 50% of the NEC are his followers is seen as a cushion for Ramaphosa against any manoeuvre by his opponents in the party’s top brass structure.

Questionable ANC NEC characters

Political analyst Sandile Swana said there were promising ANC members in the new NEC, such as Mdumiseni Ntuli, but there were many with questionable characters. “All manner of characters known for poor performance and general corruption are also present.

“Integrity commission reports will receive final approval from this NEC, who are largely implicated in scandals themselves.

“The only question really is whether Ramaphosa will, over the next 24 months, do his job as necessary. This NEC has been blamed for his nonperformance. He has a clear majority now, but it is a large group of people of questionable professional ethics,” Swana said.

A perusal of the NEC list showed Ramaphosa could have new allies in the form of Ntuli, who is former KwaZulu-Natal ANC provincial secretary, and former provincial chair and ex-premier Sihle Zikalala. Ntuli and Zikalala were alienated by the newly elected KwaZulu-Natal provincial executive committee (PEC) based on allegations that they failed to publicly express their support for Jacob Zuma.

Provincial executive committee

The two leaders were neutral in ANC factional battles, preferring to interact with both Zuma and Ramaphosa. The PEC wanted members to unreservedly support Zuma, despite the fact that Zikalala, as premier and ANC chair, is obliged to have a political relationship with Ramaphosa as president.

Although Ntuli’s election to the new KZN PEC was seen as a consolation for him, Zikalala did not make it into the PEC. Instead, Zikalala was publicly humiliated when the PEC recalled him as premier and replaced him with Nomusa Dube-Ncube in what many believed was a “vindictive” move.

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It is understood Zikalala was still bitter about the PEC humiliation, despite the fact that they offered him a position as MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs, a clear demotion from premier.

But, despite the snub by the KZN leadership, Zikalala topped the NEC list at number one with 2 152 votes while Ntuli was in the fourth position with 2 075 votes.

The two even beat Ramaphosa’s opponents and presidential challengers Zweli Mkhize, who was in the 16th position with 1 673 votes, Nkosazana Dlamini was at position 33 with 1 402 votes and Lindiwe Sisulu was near the bottom of the list at number 63 with 1 092 votes. This is an indication that the three former presidential hopefuls were no match for Ramaphosa.

Top 7 dominated by Ramaphosa supporters

With the top seven also dominated by his staunch supporters, including his battle commander Gwede Mantashe and Fikile Mbalula, Ramaphosa is in a safe position to finish his term – if he escapes the Phala Phala issue.

Absent from the list was RET hothead Tony Yengeni, a close ally of Zuma. Yengeni was allowed to contest after initially being disqualified for his criminal record, which was found to have been expunged.

ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe, who is linked to the RET, made it onto the list and so did Bathabile Dlamini, who was initially disqualified for her criminal record pertaining to lying on the Sassa issue before she was reinstated by the previous NEC.

Several other RET members, including Andile Lungisa, Tandi Mahambehlala, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, Phumulo Masualle, Malusi Gigaba, Supra Mahumapelo and Mzwandile Masina, made the list.