/ 12 December 1997

Lekota and Tshwete battle for the chair

Wally Mbhele

With Jacob Zuma undoubtedly assured of election as African National Congress deputy president after Winnie Madikizela- Mandela’s chances were rendered virtually nil, the battle for the party’s national chair will be a focal point at its 50th conference.

Having declined his nomination for the chair, Mpumalanga Premier Mathews Phosa has left the contest to Minister of Sport and Recreation Steve Tshwete and former Free State premier Terror Lekota.

In the past, the national chair has been more of a ceremonial position than an influential portfolio. But this year it looks set to become a position worth contesting.

To some, the battle will be about restoring Lekota’s pride and settling scores for the humiliation he suffered at the hands of some ANC leaders – including Tshwete – when the party’s leadership intervened last year in the heat of the Free State leadership crisis. To others, it will be an opportunity for Tshwete to reassert his authority and seniority over Lekota.

Some in the ANC believe its tradition of electing a senior generation of leaders does not allow Lekota to challenge Tshwete. But there are others who argue that performance rather than age should qualify candidates for senior positions.

Tshwete and Lekota are equally respected, influential and powerful leaders with good track records in their own right – raising fundamental differences of opinion among ANC members about who should be the next chair.

Lekota is backed by six of the nine ANC provinces. Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and the Northern Province will be key to securing him victory as they will have some of the biggest delegations at the conference.

Tshwete’s support comes from his traditional Eastern Cape base, backed by the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces. He also has the support of the ANC Youth League.

However, following Tshwete’s recent public outbursts against Madikizela-Mandela, it is understood that the ANC Women’s League is reconsidering its support for him. The league is said to be “wounded” by the way Tshwete handled her criticisms of the government.

Lekota should receive support from Madikizela-Mandela’s supporters in the Eastern Cape who are going to vote with their consciences. He also recently received the backing of the Mpumalanga province as a bonus.

It has also emerged that the powerful Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party have decided to throw their support behind Lekota.

In spite of the ANC’s Cheryl Carolus denying the existence of a Cosatu list, the Mail & Guardian has a copy of this list and can confirm that it is circulating among organised workers. Cosatu has identified a number of leaders – many of them in Parliament – it hopes to encourage its members to support for election to the ANC national executive committee.

The list includes Deputy President Thabo Mbeki to succeed President Nelson Mandela, Kgalema Motlanthe for secretary general, Thenjiwe Mthintso for deputy secretary general and Pravin Gordhan for national treasurer.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s name is strangely absent from Cosatu’s list. But it is believed the ANC Youth League will support his election.

Cosatu’s backing of Lekota sets the scene for fascinating political theatre. Relations between Lekota and Tshwete soured last year when Tshwete was sent to help heal the Free State leadership rift. It is understood that Lekota believes Tshwete was not impartial in his handling of the tensions, and Tshwete described Lekota in a report as “stubborn and troublesome”.

The perception that the ANC national office imposes leaders not elected by popular choice, will finally count against Tshwete – seen as the national office’s “hit-man”. However, his track record and popularity as Shell House’s “Mr Fixit” cannot be easily ignored.