Dissent: Some of the ANC’s top six officials apparently persuaded President Jacob Zuma to hold back on firing Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan this week.
With six months to the crucial ANC elective conference in December, a push for young leaders to take over positions in the party is gaining momentum.
The Mail & Guardian understands that a lobby group consisting of ANC leaders from different factions has held meetings across the provinces in a bid to persuade ANC structures to elect young leaders before the 2019 elections.
With South Africa’s voting population getting younger and the decline of support in the 2016 municipal elections, the ANC is under pressure to reignite its appeal, particularly among the young, urban, middle-class electorate. The youthful leaders of the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters add to the pressure.
An ANC leader in Gauteng, who did not want to be named, said discussions were underway to field young candidates for the top six positions. A “young leader” is under the age of 60.
Names discussed included Gauteng ANC chairperson Paul Mashatile, 55, Gauteng Premier David Makhura, 49, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, 45, Police Minister Fikile Mbalula, 46, former ANC Youth League secretary general Vuyiswa Tulelo, SABC interim board member Febe Potgieter-Gqubule, Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza, 56, Free State Premier Ace Magashule, about 58, and Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, 50.
“We are having a discussion nationally about who will contribute towards building a strong ANC. We came to a conclusion that a significant number of young people are ready to lead. Former president Thabo Mbeki and President Jacob Zuma were given the reins … when they were 55 years old. It is time to hand over the baton to young people,” said the ANC leader.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, 64, and former African Union Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 68, are seen as frontrunners to succeed Zuma. Sources differed on whether the plan was to field a younger candidate to contest for president or only for the other five top positions.
Eastern Cape and Gauteng provincial executive committee members Andile Lungisa and Nkenke Kekana said it was time for young people to start taking over. “The ANC leadership in December must be youthful. About 62% of our population consists of young [people]. The leadership of the ANC must follow suit. But it can’t be age only. Youthfulness must be accompanied by ideology and perspective,” said Lungisa.
The ANC regional chair in Ekurhuleni and the metro’s mayor, Mzwandile Masina, supported the call, saying it was in line with the party’s principle of a generational mix.
“Young people have always added a new, required energy within the organisation. So I do support comrade Malusi, I do support comrade Mbalula and other younger-generation leaders to emerge as part of the leadership collective,” Masina said.
He did not want to discuss who should take up which positions. “What worries me is that immediately you start speaking about those names, they become a target. You can see how comrade Malusi is being rubbished everywhere, including old stories that are being recycled now just to tarnish his image,” he said.
Earlier this year the league said it would push for 40% of the national executive committee to consist of young leaders. Its secretary general, Njabulo Nzuza, this week said the ANC had to reinvent itself. “It’s no secret that the demographics of voters are becoming younger. If we don’t heed that, we’ll have a tough mountain to climb.”