Zweli Mkhize appeared uncomfortable as he declined the deputy president nomination.
In a shock move, ANC treasurer general Zweli Mkhize withdrew from the race to become the ANC’s deputy president just moments after his nomination was announced on Sunday evening at the party’s elective conference.
An official from the elections agency read out the list of names of nominations for positions in the top six. Nomvula Mokonyane also withdrew her candidature for treasurer general from the floor, while Mkhize stood up at the podium, momentarily interrupting proceedings, to decline his nomination.
Mkhize had at one time been tipped as a contender for the ANC presidency. He appeared uncomfortable as he declined the deputy president nomination. There were 193 branches who had nominated Mkhize to be deputy president.
The list of confirmed nominations for the ruling party’s top six, and the number of branches who nominated the candidate, is as follows:
President
Cyril Ramaphosa (1469 branches)
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (1094 branches)
Deputy President
David Mabuza (1128 branches)
Lindiwe Sisulu (619 branches)
Chairperson
Gwede Mantashe (1499 branches)
Nathi Mthethwa (807 branches)
Secretary General
Senzo Mchunu (1479 branches)
Ace Magashule (930 branches)
Deputy Secretary General
Zingiswa Losi (361 branches)
Jessie Duarte (845 branches)
Treasurer General
Maite Nkoana-Mashabane (275 branches)
Paul Mashatile (158 branches)