Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is likely to bounce back from the apparent public humiliation of her last-minute withdrawal from the deputy presidency race – after garnering paltry support on the conference floor – by coming out tops in elections for the national executive committee (NEC).
The result – due out on Saturday – will ensure her survival as a major figure in the ANC despite the strain she has taken in recent months which has flared into open warfare and public slanging matches with other ANC leaders.
The double message reveals the ANC alliance’s way of coming to terms with Madikizela-Mandela: she is universally seen by conference delegates as one of their greatest assets, but is acknowledged to have been a failure in government and an irresponsible leader, who should enjoy support and glory, but not responsibility in formal office.
It also shows that the ANC’s new president, Thabo Mbeki, through careful strategising and lobbying behind the scenes, was able to contain Madikizela-Mandela’s ambitions and tame her, despite her attempts to defy him in the run-up to the conference by pitting herself against his candidate, Jacob Zuma.
Zuma won the position of deputy president unanimously after Madikizela-Mandela finally bent to pressure from NEC members, the ANC Women’s League and close associates – and tacitly acknowledged signs of weak support on the floor – and withdrew from the race
The other contender, Mathews Phosa, announced he was standing down some weeks before the conference .
Madikizela-Mandela started the week in campaign mode. She appeared vibrant and effusive as she swept through adoring crowds to the conference stage in the great hall of the University of the North West, to dance with enthusiasm in the front row of NEC delegates.
Impromptu demonstrations of support followed her wherever she went, and Winnie memorabilia was worn by conference delegates as they mobbed her. By Wednesday it was clear she had garnered support from selected members of delegations from the North West and Eastern Cape provinces, and part of the ANC Women’s League.
However, Madikizela-Mandela appeared to waver at the last minute on the stage floor on Wednesday, after having been nominated by a single member of the North West province women’s league, Yvonne Makume.
The tension of the moment was wrought on the faces of the NEC members who waited in suspense as Madikizela-Mandela, standing at the podium in a powder-blue dress, made her choice in full view of the conference. The constitutional rules had been changed earlier that day, making it necessary for nominations from the floor to be seconded by a show of hands from 25% of the delegates.
After the nomination, Madikizela-Mandela asked the conference for an adjournment to consult “structures” as she did not want to be “divisive”. This was refused by Mbeki, the chair of the session.
“I must then apologise to my supporters and decline the nomination,” she said, although the showing of hands had not been finally counted.
Her statement was met with a standing ovation from more than half the conference, and she walked back to her seat into the warm embraces of NEC members, including her long-standing friend Peter Mokaba, the deputy minister of environmental affairs and tourism, and women’s league leader Adelaide Tambo, who appeared overjoyed at her decision.
“She did what she thought was right,” said Mokaba after her withdrawal. “That demonstrates the extent to which she loves the movement.” He denied that Madikizela- Mandela had been pressurised to stand down.
Outgoing ANC deputy secretary general Cheryl Carolus said Madikizela-Mandela’s withdrawal was all that mattered, and that the ANC had not recorded an official figure for her seconding.
However, an informal tally of 125 seconders has been suggested by delegates – far below the 25% needed for her to qualify to stand. It is extremely unlikely that she would have been able to secure a true nomination if she had pushed on with the election.
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