Elections for the African National Congress leadership in Limpopo could be hotly contested after the emergence of MEC for Agriculture and Environment Aaron Motsoaledi as a rival to provincial Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi.
The two are old enemies. In 1997 Ramatlhodi fired Motsoaledi from the provincial cabinet, only to have ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma step in and order his reinstatement.
Party insiders say Motsoaledi has strong backing in at least three of six regions in the battle for the provincial chairmanship. Elections will take place at the ANC’s Limpopo con- ference at the weekend.
However, ANC members close to Luthuli House are confident that Ramatlhodi, who is close to President Thabo Mbeki, will be re-elected. He is seen as the favoured candidate of the ANC’s national leadership.
Insiders say Motsoaledi’s trump card could be the fact that he comes from the largest region in the province — Sekhukhune — which has 125 branches with 260 voting delegates. This represents more than a quarter of the 850 members who will vote at the conference.
Sekhukhune is traditionally South African Sports Commission head Joe Phaahla’s support base. A medical doctor and Motsoaledi’s close friend, Phaahla contested the ANC provincial chair’s position against Ramatlhodi at the last party election in 1998.
Party members also claim Ramatlhodi’s own region, Waterberg, is not well disposed to him. His opponents say factionalism and division in party structures led the ANC’s national leadership to dissolve the Limpopo executive committee last year.
Ramatlhodi, in his second term as premier, will not be able to continue in that position in 2004. “This is the time to bring in new leadership,” said one member.
Support for Ramatlhodi and Motsoaledi is said to be evenly split in the Capricorn region. However in Botlabelo, 70% of the delegates are expected to vote for Motsoaledi.
Vhembe, which includes Venda and Shangaan-speakers, has been a problematic region for Ramatlhodi, a Pedi. The area voted against him in the 1996 elections, when he lost the chairmanship to George Mashamba.