The African National Congress’s national executive committee (NEC) will meet on Thursday to discuss the party’s list of parliamentary nominations.
”The NEC will consider the list, but there is not certainty that the list will be finalised from today’s NEC [meeting],” said party spokesperson Carl Niehaus.
The list committee was still implementing the resolutions of the list conference, he said.
”We are still involved in the process … we will eventually make it available once we finalise the process.”
The ANC’s only legal obligation was to submit the list from the party’s NEC to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
”The IEC anyhow can’t even announce the date when political parties must present the list, [this can be done], only once the president announces the date of the elections.”
He said the IEC would need to go through the list and confirm it complied with regulations and only contained nominees who were eligible.
”We are still quite a distance from officially calling any kind of list final, even once we submit,” said Niehaus.
On Wednesday several newspapers reported on an apparent ANC list of parliamentary nominations.
Niehaus could not confirm the authenticity of this list.
”This is an unofficial document which seems to be making the rounds.”
The Star newspaper reported that according to a list in its possession, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel appeared at number four on the list.
Topping the list was ANC President Jacob Zuma, followed by President Kgalema Motlanthe and Deputy President Baleka Mbete.
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela got the number-five spot. Questions however remained about whether her suspended sentence for fraud would prevent her from becoming a member of Parliament.
Also apparently on the list, at number 77, was Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni. He was however pipped by Environment Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk who, according to Beeld newspaper, made number 64.
South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande appeared at number nine, while Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi came in at number 24.
Vavi had already declined his nomination.
ANC Youth League president Julius Malema came in at 95, while his predecessor Fikile Mbalula apparently made 10th spot.
NEC members Cyril Ramaphosa and Tokyo Sexwale were placed at number 21 and 28 respectively.
Ramaphosa and former spy boss Billy Masetlha, at number 35, already declined their nominations, as did former party chief whip Tony Yengeni, due to a previous fraud conviction.
Former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka was not mentioned in any of the newspaper reports detailing the nominations.
There has been wide-spread speculation that she will defect to the Congress of the People.
Meanwhile the ANC also announced on Thursday it had won four of the country’s provinces in by-elections.
”While by-elections are not generally regarded as a reliable indicator of party support, the ANC is pleased to note that it won all by-elections in Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng,” read a statement.
The ruling party said it also won 11 out of 15 by-elections in the hotly contested Northern Cape.
”Claims that the ANC has been losing support in the province have thus been proven grossly exaggerated,” the party added. — Sapa