Zukile Majova
Supporters of President Cyril Ramaphosa have emerged victorious from a hotly contested elective conference of the ANC in Gauteng.
Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, an unwavering supporter of Ramaphosa’s bid to get a second term, beat Lebogang Maile to become provincial chairperson.
He faces a mammoth task of saving the ANC from losing the province to a coalition of opposition parties in the 2024 elections.
His party recently lost the key metros of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.
Maile congratulated Lesufi with a tweet: “Congratulations cde Panyaza Lesufi on your elections as a Provincial Chairperson of Gauteng, all the best my brother. You ran a clean campaign befitting of a leader of our movement. We all rally behind the elected leadership as work towards anc victory in 2024!”
The conference also elected three women; Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko (deputychairperson), Morakana Mosupye (treasurer) and Tasneem Motara (deputy provincial secretary) into the Top Five.
Popular music and entertainment guru TK Nciza has been elected provincial secretary.
The results are a huge vote of confidence on Ramaphosa who has been under pressure to step down following a $4 million robbery cover up at his Phala Phala Farm two years ago.
So far, Ramaphosa supporters who represent a faction of moderate progressives in the ANC broad church, are at the forefront of fighting for the rebuilding of state capacity following years of state capture.
This is the faction that is pushing for the prosecution of those implicated in state capture and looting of state-owned enterprises.
The Ramaphosa faction has now won the support of Gauteng, Eastern Cape and Limpopo; all influential provinces with just five months before the ruling party’s elective conference in December.
KwaZulu-Natal, the biggest province in the ANC by numbers is due to hold its elective conference on 15-17 July.
Its 11 regions have until the end of June to wrap up nomination for leaders who will contest positions at the conference.
So far Premier Sihle Zikalala is facing a strong challenge from Finance MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube and AmaZulu FC chairman Sandile Zulu, a well known loyalist of former president Jacob Zuma.
KwaZulu-Natal is expected to be the launch pad for the anti-Ramaphosa campaign.
