Celani Sikhakhane
The outcome of the ANC Eastern Cape conference has effectively assured President Cyril Ramaphosa a second term at the ruling party’s elective conference in December.
It also guarantees Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane a second term in office, ensuring long-term stability in ongoing efforts to grow the provincial economy and attract investors.
With an unemployment rate of almost 50%, the province includes the poorest and most underdeveloped communities in South Africa.
The EC is currently the third biggest province by number of delegates expected at the all-important ANC national conference.
The strong challenge by the Lubabalo Madikizela faction was designed to cause an upset in the conference and represented a launch pad for the presidential campaign of disgraced former health minister Zweli Mkhize.
Mabuyane, an unwavering ally of President Ramaphosa, walked away with a clean sweep as his allies were elected onto the province’s top leadership.
Mlungisi Mvoko was elected as deputy chairperson, Lulama Ngcukayithobi as secretary, Helen Sauls as deputy secretary, and Zolile Williams as treasurer.
Madikizela and Mkhize were in the Eastern Cape in recent months attending funerals and other ANC events together.
Last week, ahead of this congress, it was reported that Mkhize had set aside R20 million from the controversial Digital Vibe Communications contracts for his presidential campaign.
On Monday, Mabuyane told journalists that Ramaphosa is the only leader who is going to take the ANC forward.
He said the party is on a renewal path with Ramaphosa leading the fight to rid the party of looters and those implicated in the capture of the state and its enterprises.
Newly elected treasurer Zolile Williams, who is also the municipal manager of the Joe Gqabi District, beat the flamboyant Andile Lungisa, who was nominated from the floor.
Williams told the media that he was ready to resign from his municipal post.
“All of us who have been elected will have to resign in the next coming weeks. I myself have to relocate to be closer to the provincial headquarters of the ANC,” he said.
