Former Mpumalanga premier-turned-businessman Mathews Phosa has been elected to the provincial African National Congress’s list of provincial and national candidates for next year’s elections, SABC Radio News reported on Monday. The ANC also announced on Monday that President Thabo Mbeki heads the North West’s national candidates nominations list.
The current Mpumalanga Premier, Ndaweni Mahlangu, is top of the list of candidates from that province for the National Assembly, and second on the provincial legislature list.
Former Mpumalanga minister of health Sbongile Manana, recently redeployed to the sports, recreation, arts and culture department amid claims of financial mismanagement, is 28th on the provincial and 16th on the national list, the broadcaster said. Leading the provincial list is provincial minister of social services Siphosezwe Masango.
In the North West, second on the national list is Deputy President Jacob Zuma and third is ANC national chairperson and Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota, the ANC said in a statement.
They are followed by Northern Cape Premier Manne Dipico, Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Thoko Didiza, Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and provincial Premier Popo Molefe.
Education Minister Kader Asmal is eighth on the list of nominees for the National Assembly, followed by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi.
The party said the list ”demonstrates the confidence the ANC branches have in their leadership, particularly the president, comrade Thabo Mbeki”.
The top five on the provincial list are all serving provincial ministers — Darkey Africa, Pitso Tolo, Mandlenkosi Mayisela, Jerry Thibedi and Edna Molewa, the statement said.
”This reflects the practical expression of the correctness of the ANC principle of continuity.”
A provincial list conference was held in Mafikeng over the weekend.
The party’s list committee is to meet on Tuesday to nominate candidates for the National Council of Provinces.
All the provincial lists have yet to be approved by the ANC’s provincial executive committee before being submitted to the national executive committee.
The party’s nominations lists will be finalised at a special national conference in November. — Sapa