Panyaza Lesufi. (Oupa Nkosi/M&G)
Lobbying has started in Gauteng for ANC regional conferences ahead of those at provincial level, with no clear favourites yet emerging in the leadership races.
The regional conferences are expected to see the announcement of preferred candidates for the provincial party chairperson in the coming weeks.
The provincial executive committee (PEC) member and member of the executive council for cooperative governance, Lebogang Maile, is expected to face off against Gauteng deputy chair Panyaza Lesufi when the province holds its conference in May.
Lesufi is said to be a close ally of former women’s league leader Angie Motshekga and, by extension, President Cyril Ramaphosa. Maile is known to be aligned to the Paul Mashatile faction in the province.
Although both have ambitions of chairing Gauteng, there are suggestions that the factions should be consolidated, with Maile as Lesufi’s deputy.
“There is strong talk that we must come to the provincial conference with a united slate,” one PEC member said, adding that this discussion is sponsored by provincial leaders who believe the ANC stands a better chance in the 2024 national elections if it presents a credible leadership.
Those in both camps say Ramaphosa will probably be pronounced as the preferred presidential candidate for a second term by Gauteng. Talks regarding the deputy president position indicate both camps lean towards Mashatile.
The Mail & Guardian previously reported that Mashatile, who acted as deputy general secretary after Jessie Duarte took leave, wrote to Gauteng secretary Jacob Khawe insisting that he move the provincial conference to May. This comes after Khawe sent a memorandum stating that the regional conferences would take place in May and proposing that the provincial conference take place in July. This was rejected by the national executive committee (NEC), which pushed for Gauteng to hold the meeting in May.
In Ekurhuleni, current chair and former mayor Mzwandile Masina will go up against regional treasurer Doctor Xhakaza. Xhakaza is said to be in a slate that includes the current regional deputy secretary, Phelisa Nkunjana. Xhakaza is said to enjoy the support of the minister in the presidency, Mondli Gungubele, a former mayor of the metro.
Masina, who has been a strong proponent of former president Jacob Zuma and suspended secretary general Ace Magashule, is heading a slate that includes current regional secretary TK Nciza.
The Ekurhuleni region is also lobbying for Nciza to be secretary of the province. He is likely to go head to head with Khawe for the position.
In Johannesburg, current secretary Dada Morero will be making a go for the position of regional chair.
Morero lost out as ANC candidate for mayor against Mpho Moerane. ANC insiders say that even though Morero has the advantage as the secretary, Moerane is favoured by party provincial leaders to take the region.
In Tshwane, current chair Dr Kgosi Maepa is expected to go up against secretary Eugene “Bonzo” Modise.
The deeply divided Tshwane region will be a true test for the province, one party leader said, adding that there were also talks that Maepa should be redeployed to the government.
“It’s a mess in Tshwane so there is not really a slate that is ahead of another. You might find that there will be other slates that will emerge when they go to conferences.”
Calls for the region to be disbanded because of factional wars have recently been brought to Luthuli House by branches.
The ANC in the region has also been plagued by criminal elements seeking to infiltrate the organisation.
In October 2021, the M&G reported that in a meeting attended by Duarte and ANC deputy president David Mabuza, disgruntled party members asked the officials to either resolve problems faced by the regional executive committee (REC) or disband that structure.
The West Rand, which is home to Khawe and head of organising Nomvula Mokonyane, will also see a line of contenders racing for the position of chair, one regional insider said.
The regional leader said that although many will probably raise their hands given the 2021 election results, the top contenders were current regional chairperson Maphefo Letsie, current regional deputy chairperson Dennis Thabe and former ANC Youth League regional chairperson William Matsheke.
In the Sedibeng region, former chairperson Thulani Kunene, the current provincial elections manager, is said to be the most likely to be elected, but some are hedging their bets on former regional secretary Bheki Ngobese.
The two were leading the region when it was disbanded in 2019 after its elective conference. The provincial executive committee partitioned the NEC to dissolve the structure when some branches questioned the legitimacy of the conference. Party leaders who emerged from the conference have been fighting in the courts to try to overturn the provincial executive’s decision.
The disbandment of the region has led to factions in the region, which has affected service delivery.
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