PHUTI MOSOMANE
WITH just few hours left before the election of the ANC’s top six officials, president Cyril Ramaphosa’s opponents have joined forces to topple him as party leader.
ANC insiders belonging to the radical economic transformation [RET] faction told Inside Politics that Ramaphosa’s opponents secretly met in Johannesburg last night and agreed on the name of former health Minister Zweli Mkhize as a presidential candidate to challenge Ramaphosa.
While there was no decision taken on the position of deputy president, the RET faction is expected to support ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile as deputy president.
ANC NEC members Dr Nkosazana Zuma, Lindiwe Sisulu and deputy president David Mabuza, will form part of top six list by the RET forces.
“We are meeting again this morning to finalise discussions on other positions. We agreed that the final decision must be taken before 13h00. Once we have finalised discussions on other positions, we will nominate all those who are not on the ballot from the floor,” said a senior ANC leader who’s was part of the meeting by leaders belonging to the RET faction.
Only Mashatile and Mkhize made it to the ballot through the ANC’s nomination process which took place over the past few months.
The ANC insider claimed the RET forces were enjoying majority support after the consolidation.
“All in all we have 2100 delegates on our side. We just need 200 more and then we are done. Limpopo PEC met last night and resolved on Zweli. Other provinces that will support us include KZN, Western Cape, Free State and Gauteng. In Eastern Cape, we have 300 delegates and DD is bringing 128 from Mpumalanga,” said the ANC insider.
INSIDE POLITICS
