African National Congress groupings are already jockeying to position their favoured candidates for the post-Thabo Mbeki era, though he still has another five years as the party’s president.
Many provinces are bandying about the name of Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for the post of the party’s national chairperson, which will give her additional national exposure.
“Issues of succession after Mbeki steps down as ANC president at the party conference in 2007 informed our choice for the position,” said a Youth League leader in North West.
ANC branches in Mpumalanga are also considering former party secretary general Cyril Ramaphosa as the national chairperson, as well as the current chair Mosiuoa Lekota, Zuma and Limpopo ANC chairperson Ngoako Ramatlhodi.
ANC spokesperson in Mpumalanga “Bucks” Mahlangu says provinces have until November 15 to make their nominations. He said a clearer picture of the favoured candidates would emerge in the next few weeks.
Fikile Mbalula, the ANC Youth League’s national secretary general, said his organisation had not yet decided who to nominate as the party’s top five office-bearers.
Youth league spokesperson Khulekani Ntshangase said the organisation would decide its nominations at its national executive committee meeting this weekend.
Youth league leaders in Limpopo said many in the national organisation would push Zuma as the national chairperson, but the league in Limpopo would support Lekota. The province had also supported Lekota for the position at the last conference in Mafikeng.
Many members around the country believe that Mbeki’s inner circle wanted to place their favoured candidates in the top five positions, giving them the edge in deciding the party’s president in 2007.
Party insiders in at least three provinces confirmed that the position of deputy secretary general would be contested if the current occupant, Thenjiwe Mtintso, were unavailable for renomination. Many have speculated that Mtintso might retire because of ill health.
ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama said that Mtintso had not announced what she planned to do.
The youth league is believed to be considering Minister of Provincial and Local Government Sydney Mufamadi as deputy secretary general. Mavivi Myakayaka-Manzini, head of the ANC’s international affairs desk, is also being mentioned in the provinces as a candidate for the post.
Party insiders in the Western Cape said there was virtually no support for Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang to be elected to the national executive committee (NEC). Minister of Public Service and Administration Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi was also unpopular in the Western Cape, where Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel and Minister of Education Kader Asmal were favoured.
Branches around the Pietermaritzburg region of KwaZulu-Natal are lobbying for MEC for Health Zweli Mkhize to be elected to the NEC, though he lost the contest for the party’s provincial chairmanship to S’bu Ndebele two months ago.
The province also favours MEC for Housing Dumisani Makhaye, and MPs Ben Martins and Yunus Carrim for the NEC.
Youth league leaders in Limpopo said support was building throughout the province for South African Communist Party stalwart George Mashamba to be nominated to the NEC.
Decisions on nominations are being informed by the ANC’s election guide, Through the Eye of the Needle, which calls for debates on each candidate’s performance and history within the organisation.
“All the party leaders are being subjected to a thorough scrutiny by branch members across the country,” said one insider.
Members have been debating the performance of Mbeki and other national office bearers. Branch members had “vigorously debated about each office bearer’s weaknesses and whether they should be given a second chance,” said a party member in the Western Cape.
Most provinces believe the positions of Mbeki, Deputy President Jacob Zuma and secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe will not be contested.
Almost all the provinces will be holding regional conferences on nominations this weekend.