The Positioning of ANC officials ambitious to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC president seem to have begun, with alliances forming and factions emerging.
This despite te ANC leadership on Monday denying that party leaders have started having talks among themselves as to who would take over the hot chair of Luthuli House.
These assertions follow a public spat between the party’s secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, who seems to be eyeing the position and provincial chairperson and Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who is believed to be supporting Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
However, speaking yesterday at a media briefing during the ANC’s 100 days of the Government of National Unity (GNU) at its headquarters, Mashatile and the first deputy-secretary Nomvula Mokonyane both denied that there were factions brewing to pave the way for a new president.
Mashatile, who is also a contender, said it was too early for the succession battle to be entertained.
“The conference is in 2027, so it’s three years. I’d say it’s too early to talk about who is going to be president. Remember at the moment we are busy rebuilding branches. A lot of our branches are going to general meetings and regional conferences after that we are going to have provincial conferences. Those are the people that will start to say who they want to lead. So I think we should not rush.
“Often this thing of contestation defocusses us. We are focussed on important things right now leading the GNU,” Mashatile said.
Trying to weather the storm, Mokonyane said there were no organisational issues.
“If there are issues of personalities, then of course we will have to manage so that they don’t flow into the life of the organisation,” Mokonyane said.
In a video that went viral recently Mbalula, on national television warns Lesufi not to start a campaign against him.
“If he thinks he can run a campaign against the secretary of the ANC (Mbalula) he must mind his steps because we will act. We will never tolerate people who are rogue in the ANC… If he has decided to run a campaign against me as the secretary general, defacing me... and doing it perpetually despite that we have spoken politically.
“We will have to see how we get around that. We will never allow anarchy in the organisation…Running of the organisation is determined by the principles of democratic centralism and that dictates that when a decision is taken by the upper structures the lower structures must follow in line,” Mbalula said.
It is believed that Mbalula was referring to Lesufi’s refusal to work with the DA in the province fuelling tensions within the GNU.
It was widely reported recently that Mbalula wanted to disband the ANC in Gauteng after the May 29 elections where they lost dismally.
Insiders also reveal that Mashatile defended Lesufi against Mbalula’s criticism, sparking tensions within the party last week Monday during a meeting.
Mbalula has secured alliances with provincial secretaries, while Mashatile’s camp includes Lesufi. The ANC’s national general council next year will likely reveal the candidates.
Mashatile faces hurdles due to reports of a lavish lifestyle and investigations by the Hawks, SIU, and Public Protector’s Office, which he denies.
Attempts to get comment from Lesufi and Mbalula were unsuccessful by the time of publication.
The Star