/ 1 December 2017

North West ANC nominates Dlamini-Zuma as preferred candidate

CR17 lobbyists in the province are disputing the result saying that the nomination process was plagued by irregularities.
CR17 lobbyists in the province are disputing the result saying that the nomination process was plagued by irregularities.

The ANC in the North West has nominated Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as its preferred successor to President Jacob Zuma.

The nomination was announced at the ANC North West provincial general council (PGC) in Bojanalo in the North West. After proceedings were delayed the PGC announced that Dlamini-Zuma received 291 nominations while her main rival Ramaphosa received only 45 nominations.

223 branches in the province nominated unity for the position of president but the electoral commission recorded those as abstentions.

The PGC nominated Dlamini-Zuma for president, DD Mabuza as deputy, Nathi Mthethwa as national chairperson, Ace Magashule as secretary-general, Jessie Duarte as deputy secretary general and Maite Nkoana-Mashabane as treasurer.

Mpumalanga chair Mabuza was nominated to be deputy president, beating Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor by 289 votes to 25.

For the position of national chairperson Minister of Arts and Culture Mthethwa secured 284 nominations, the party’s secretary-general Gwede Mantashe received 40 nominations.

Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Nkoana-Mashabane was nominated to be treasurer with 150 nominations beating Minister of Water and Sanitation Mokonyane who received 147.

The ANC’s current deputy secretary general Duarte garnered a staggering 261 nominations compared to her close rival Zingizwa Losi who could only muster 2 nominations.

CR17 lobbyists in the province, however, are disputing the result saying that the nomination process was plagued by irregularities.

“The result is not a true reflection of what has been happening in the branches. It is impossible that Dlamini-Zuma could claim such a victory. We were expecting it to be close but this? This cannot be real,” said a branch leader who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Mpumalanga nominated unity ahead of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa. Dlamini Zuma was nominated by 123 branches and Ramaphosa by 117. The province nominated Premier David Mabuza as deputy president, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe as chair, Senzo Mchunu as secretary general and Gauteng ANC chairperson Paul Mashatile as treasurer general. Mpumalanga is the second biggest ANC province.