African National Congress (ANC) MP James Ngculu ousted Western Cape ANC chairperson Ibrahim Rasool from his post following an election at the party’s provincial congress on Saturday.
Ngculu, who chairs the National Assembly’s health committee, won the election by 274 to 259 votes, a spokesperson for the congress said after the results were announced early Sunday morning.
The outcome of the vote will not affect Rasool’s position as premier of the Western Cape.
Rasool told delegates on Saturday morning he would accept the outcome of the election without rancour ”because very few people get the kind of honour in an entire lifetime [the ANC] have already given me”.
Current provincial secretary and Transport MEC Mcebisi Skwatsha was elected secretary.
The conference, the province’s fifth, was attended by 550 voting delegates from 238 branches.
The election was held under the auspices of the Electoral Institute of South Africa. – Sapa