The growing public persona of African National Congress (ANC) treasurer general Mathews Phosa has led Luthuli House to rein in newly elected leaders of the governing party and ensure that all leaders give the same message, the Mail & Guardian has learned.
Phosa’s public profiling is seen by critics as groundwork to put him in a favourable position to become the deputy president of South Africa and eventually the president.
ANC and alliance members are becoming annoyed with Phosa, who, they say, has been using public platforms to promote his own image.
Since his election as treasurer general in December, he has assumed a much higher public profile than his predecessor, Mendi Msimang.
Apart from ANC engagements, such as addressing press conferences, caucuses and anniversary celebrations, he has also addressed business meetings, community organisations and events in the law fraternity.
Although the ANC insists officials are free to address forums to which they are invited, Luthuli House has decided to ”centralise communication”, spokesperson Jessie Duarte told the M&G. ”We found ourselves in a situation where too many people were having interviews on too many issues. We want to make sure that leaders are not doing interviews all day long and not doing anything else.”
Phosa has been vocal on the Polokwane resolution on the disbanding of the Scorpions and the assessment of Chancellor House, the fund-raising vehicle of the ANC.
Of particular concern to his critics are his threats in the Financial Mail about recalling deployed cadres if they do not toe the line.
The M&G has learned that the secretary general has received complaints about him, and that ”the view is that he is a law unto himself”.
Luthuli House has decided to develop a set of key messages to ensure that all leaders are on the same page.
”The problem is when there are questions from the floor, that is when leaders get out of hand. At question time people ask all manner of questions and you can’t do anything about it,” an insider said.
An ANC national executive committee member came to Phosa’s defence. ”Too much centralisation is stifling debate. The president [Jacob Zuma] says it is important for us to have an open and transparent organisation.”
In the tripartite alliance, as well as in government circles, it is said that Phosa is positioning himself for greater heights.
”The previous treasurer general — you hardly ever heard of him. Now Phosa is talking all over the place,” a government official said.
”People say Mathews is trying to outmanoeuvre JZ and that he is jockeying for that position [of president],” said a close Zuma ally.
It is, however felt that Phosa is ”wasting his time”.
”The plan is there. If you [the courts] are able to find JZ guilty, JZ will resign and the deputy president [Kgalema Motlanthe] takes over,” he said. An ANC regional leader in the Eastern Cape said that Phosa ”cannot be ruled out” if Zuma has to leave the presidency.
”It is said that he, together with Kgalema, are entertaining the prospects of JZ going to jail and then Kgalema can become the president and Mathews deputy president.”
A source in Luthuli House said Phosa knows that Motlanthe is second in line for the state presidency if Zuma is removed, but in 2012 it will be an open race. ”He is in it for two reasons: to make money and to position himself as president.”
Several sources said Phosa still has an axe to grind because he was shifted aside in Mafikeng in 1997 for the party’s deputy president in favour of Zuma.
”He can also then dish out deals to people who can help him become president in the future,” the Eastern Cape leader said.