Zuma supporters call for action to be taken against Ramaphosa – report

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe will reportedly come under fire at the party’s national executive committee meeting in Irene this weekend.

Mantashe will be roasted by President Jacob Zuma’s supporters for his role in the disputed ANC Eastern Cape conference a month ago, when a pro-Ramaphosa executive committee was elected, the Sunday Times has reported.

An NEC member reportedly told the publication that Zuma supporters had planned to fight for the outcome of the Eastern Cape conference where delegates threw chairs at each other.

There was reportedly a stalemate among NEC members about whether to nullify the conference as provincial chairperson Phumulo Masualle was hospital on the day.

Mantashe has also been criticised for publicly endorsing Ramaphosa, with his ability to be unbiased at the elective conference being questioned.

Ramaphosa has reportedly been accused of being “factional” after revealing his ‘winning team’ for the ANC top six during a rally in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, last Sunday.

The leading presidential contender named Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor as his deputy, and snubbed fellow presidential candidate Lindiwe Sisulu.

Ramaphosa’s decision to pick Pandor as his female running mate has been praised as a smart move by political analysts. He also picked Mantashe as his preferred national chairperson, former KwaZulu-Natal ANC chairperson Senzo Mchunu as secretary-general and ANC Gauteng chairperson Paul Mashatile as treasurer-general.

Mantashe told the publication that though the Ramaphosa issue was not on the agenda, it could be raised by NEC members.

“You can’t predict what people are going to say when they talk. You can’t say it won’t be talked about,” he was quoted as saying.

But Ramaphosa supporters in the NEC told the publication they would defend Ramaphosa and Mantashe.

“We are prepared to say that when President Zuma endorsed Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma publicly he was not rebuked. They must be consistent,” a Ramaphosa supporter was quoted as saying.

The meeting started on Saturday and ends on Monday.

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