The race for Gauteng’s ANC chairperson looks headed for a showdown between provincial Economic Affairs and Finance Minister Paul Mashatile and provincial Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
Although provincial Housing Minister Nomvula Mokonyane is in the race, support for her is centred mainly in the West Rand region, where she comes from.
The ANC holds its provincial congress from October 6 to 9 at Gallagher Estate, Midrand, where a new leadership will be elected. Premier Mbhazima Shilowa is the chairperson at present. Motshekga is deputy chairperson, while Mashatile and Mokonyane are ordinary members of the provincial executive committee.
The battle for chair is considered a proxy for the position of premier of Gauteng, as Shilowa is stepping down in 2009 after serving two terms.
Although it has become clear that Shilowa is not contesting next week’s battle, it was believed initially that he would step in and stand if the succession race became ugly and divisive.
In the last contest between Motshekga and Mashatile for the deputy chair in 2004, Motshekga won in what was a surprise result then because Mashatile was considered more senior and experienced. However, they go into this contest as equals, with Mashatile representing seniority in the province, while Motshekga represents those seeking a change of blood in the leadership.
The Motshekga campaign was described by one of its lobbyists this week as a ‘runaway trainâ€. The campaigner said they were banking on support for Motshekga from Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Metsweding and the ANC Women’s League.
The Motshekga campaign has earmarked former local government provincial minister Sicelo Shiceka as deputy chairperson, retaining David Makhura as secretary, putting Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramokgopa as deputy secretary and Nomvula Mokonyane as treasurer.
Mashatile was publicly proposed by the provincial youth league as the chairperson last weekend. The Mashatile lobby is hoping for support from the youth league, Tshwane, Sedibeng (Vaal) and parts of the West Rand. His top five includes Motshekga as his deputy, Mokonyane as treasurer and the retention of Makhura as secretary and Mandla Nkomfe as deputy secretary.
Mokonyane is said to derive support only from the West Rand, which would be insufficient to propel her to the chair. However, ANC members in the province say she believes the next premier of Gauteng should be a woman and could throw her weight in with Motshekga.
The youth league is, however, not united on Mashatile. A senior leader of the league told the Mail & Guardian that Mashatile did not enjoy the support of the majority of the youth in the province.
The league leader said the league was concerned that Mashatile did not support the league’s national position to back Jacob Zuma as the next president of the party. It is widely believed that Mashatile supports businessperson Tokyo Sexwale to be the next president, although he has never publicly indicated so.
The league leader also said it was concerned about ‘endless†stories linking Mashatile to corruption, which have appeared in the newspapers.
Stories by the M&G have focused on how Mashatile favoured people close to him when making key appointments in his department.
Motshekga is believed to support Zuma for president. The ANC in Gauteng has not indicated its preferences for national party leadership. Leaders in the province say they plan to come up with a leadership position that will unify the ANC across the country.