Johannesburg – The ANC national elective conference was adjourned on Tuesday – before its business could be concluded. This should come as no surprise as the conference was bogged down by a series of delays from day one. However, the top seven were announced and the conference will reconvene in the first week of January.
President Cyril Ramaphosa emerged victorious over Dr. Zweli Mkhize with 2476 votes to 1897 votes while Paul Mashatile was voted in as the Deputy President. There was a closer race for the National Chairperson with Gwede Mantashe edging out Stanley Mathabatha with 2062 votes to 2018 votes. Fikile Mbalula was voted as the Secretary-General while Nomvula Mokonyane was voted as the First Deputy Secretary-General. The Second Deputy Secretary-General is Maropene Ramokgopa. Gwen Ramokgopa took the position of Treasure General with nearly 2000 votes.
Smiles all around for the ANC
In a show of unity, the defeated candidates embraced the newly elected leadership. Mkhize embraced Ramaphosa after the results were announced – talk about the spirit of comradeship in a highly-divided organisation! ANC KwaZulu-Natal were left stunned after not a single one of their candidates was elected to the top seven despite it being the province that brought the most delegates.
However, ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial chairperson, Bheki Motolo said the province accepts the outcome and will back every member of leadership. The new top seven leadership is divided between supporters of Ramaphosa and Mkhize. This will surely put the claimed unity to the test. If the ANC is to survive, the smiles and embraces that were seen after the results will have to be real.
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Working together for a better future
Although the conference was hit by various delays, in Mbalula’s first address as Secretary-General, he called the conference a “resounding success”. He admitted the ANC was conducting its business “not like a well-run machine” but that will change. Mbalula said those NEC members who have attacked the president and each other will not have the chance to do that under his authority and did not mince his words when he sent out a stern warning to rogue members.
“There will be no lawlessness in the ANC. Those who want to continue with those shenanigans, they must be ready for me. I am the commander in the ANC and I must lead from the front, so no more tweeting from me at midnight.”
It is interesting to note that Mbalula said the country will see a new ANC come January. Resolutions will be implemented and ill disciplined party members will be disciplined. It is almost an indication that Mbalula accepts that members have been allowed to run a mock within the ANC without fearing punishment. While there was nothing wrong with comrades debating certain issues, it was wrong for them to insult each other, he said. Party members must toe the line, if not they belong somewhere else.
One of the more surprising things uttered by Mbalula is that he might be leaving the government. He mentioned that while nothing is final as yet, he feels he has finally found his place within the ANC and that his time in government has run its course. The matter of him leaving as Transport Minister will be discussed with the president but Mbalula feels he could resign very soon.
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Ramaphosa’s closing address
During the re-elected president’s closing address, he reiterated how unified the party has become during this conference – let’s see if this holds. The leadership has to be unified if it is to survive. Ramaphosa once again called the conference a “watershed moment in the history of our movement” and while the discussions have been “robust, at times loud and noisy but always sought to unite us”.
The president admitted the ANC has made plenty of mistakes and even brought the party to the brink but “we have been able to pull ourselves back”. He reiterated that his mission was to unite and renew the ANC. He added that if the ANC is not united, it will not be able to create an economy for the people nor would it be able to unite South Africa.
Ramaphosa also touched on the rife corruption within the ANC and state capture. While both may “cause discord within our structure” state capture and corruption must be eradicated from the ANC if it is to survive and serve the people of South Africa.
Ramaphosa has apparently also taken a strong stance against those who loot the state coffers saying, “We should show no mercy to those who steal money from the poor, whoever they are”.
The Top Seven briefing
Maropene Ramokgope, Second Deputy Secretary-General, clarified that all of the ANC Women’s league staff members have been paid. If there are any who have not, she has called them to come forward so they can discuss the matter. She also addressed the issues with her election to the top seven saying it is not just about “crunching numbers” but about the quality contribution that she and the other women can make to the organisation. She adds that the women have been added to very serious roles that ensure the day-to-day running of the organisation.
ANC head of economic transformation, Mmamoloko Kubayi, addressed the media with regards to land reform and redistribution. These were rigorously debated with specialists during her breakaway discussion room. They also deliberated around energy security given the current crisis Eskom is in.
Kubayi also touched on BBE. She admits there are various inefficiencies that need to be sorted out. This and construction mafias will be dealt with, she said
Due to voting starting closer to the afternoon, the ANC’s NEC top 80 members will be announced on Wednesday. This would be the new national leadership structure that would steer the party – plagued by infighting and hostility – towards the 2024 national elections.
