Prominent African National Congress intellectual Pallo Jordan’s election to the party’s most select leadership group, the National Working Committee (NWC), has been hailed as a boost for the party’s left.
Jordan was among the 15 members elected by the ANC’s national executive committee at its three-day meeting beginning last Friday.
Under President Thabo Mbeki’s leadership the NWC has been monopolised by members of his inner circle for the past five years. Jordan is known to have been critical of the party’s stance on HIV/ Aids, among other issues.
Most of the previous NWC members have been retained, with the only other new member the Minister of Intelligence, Lindiwe Sisulu.
An independent socialist who was once detained by the ANC in exile, Jordan was dropped by Mbeki when he formed his Cabinet in 1999.
Under former president Nelson Mandela he first served in the Cabinet as minister for posts, telecommunications and broadcasting, and was moved to the environment portfolio in a reshuffle in 1996.
Analysts suggested that he was considered “too independent” by Mandela and Mbeki, then Mandela’s deputy.
An ANC insider said the left had “pushed and pushed Pallo in [to the NWC]”. Surprisingly, former ANC deputy secretary general Thenjiwe Mtintso, widely seen as a candidate for the NWC, did not feature. However, party sources said a number of members had declined positions as they were “too time-consuming”.
The NWC will meet fortnightly. In its first meeting, it will consider the deployment of national executive members to various provinces and sectors in preparation for next year’s general election.
Last weekend’s national executive meeting focused on strengthening governance and improving service delivery. It called for a “broad front for reconstruction and development with the alliance at its core”, which would include NGOs and civil society organisations. This would also help the party prepare for the upcoming Growth and Development Summit.
The national executive committee also announced that the Eastern Cape ANC would meet at the end of March to elect its new provincial executive.