Cape Town - The ANC’s branches have voted for an 80-member list of additional leaders to serve on its all-powerful structure – the National Executive Committee (NEC) – under the renewal theme.
Some big names – including Tony Yengeni, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, Labour and Unemployment Minister Thulas Nxesi, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande, former Treasury minister Tito Mboweni and Department of International Relations and Co-operation Minister Naledi Pandor – were all notable omissions.
Former President Kgalema Motlanthe, the party’s electoral committee chairperson, said the ballot contained 200 nominees to serve on the NEC.
Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula hinted strongly at a Cabinet reshuffle.
Mbalula waxed lyrical over what he saw as an NEC that achieved the generational mix concept of young and old leaders.
He appeared surprised by the big names being sidelined, saying: “I didn’t see Blade, Thulas and them.” He also singled out the omission of policy geek Joel Netshitenzhe as a “big problem for me”.
Mbalula said Ramaphosa “should be applying his mind” on a Cabinet reshuffle and that he has the whole holiday period to mull it over.
He added that although he would “engage” Ramaphosa on a Cabinet reshuffle, the decision was Ramaphosa’s “prerogative”.
Mbalula was quizzed on the Section 89 report into the Phala Phala scandal. He said as far as they’re concerned, the matter was before the relevant agencies probing the Phala Phala fallout.
The scandal sees cases of, among other things, kidnapping, money laundering and the torture of thieves who broke into Ramaphosa’s farm, opened by ex-State Security Agency head Arthur Fraser against Ramaphosa.
Mbalula commended the conference for achieving the generational mix concept of young and old leaders, but was quick to lay down the gauntlet, warning non-performers that he and deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane “don’t play”.
Some of the noteworthy NEC members are Sihle Zikalala (first place: 2 218 votes), Mduduzi Manana (2nd: 2 152 votes), Bheki Cele (5th: 2 022 votes), Malusi Gigaba (7th: 1 856) and Zizi Kodwa (1 792).
Political analysts said the majority of the NEC supports Ramaphosa and this will see him cement his power.
CPUT political lecturer and analyst Dr Trust Matsilele said: “It looks like it’s skewed in favour of Ramaphosa.
“Second, we can expect, in the next Cabinet reshuffle, some movements are appearing in this current NEC making it into the Cabinet.”
Matsilele said Ramaphosa could appoint to his Cabinet former KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala, who tops the NEC list.
Political analyst Lukhanyo Vangqa said it’s “very significant” that Gordhan is not on the list and that Nzimande was “co-opted” into the NEC.
He said he wasn’t surprised that SACP leaders, including Nxesi, aren’t in the NEC. Vangqa noted the presence of youth and was pleased to see at least three people aged under 35.
The ANC’s 2017 national elective conference saw the ANC sideline all SA Communist Party (SACP) national office bearers from the NEC, leading the ANC to reach a “co-option” compromise that saw Nzimande included.
Paternoster Group: African Political Insight senior researcher Mike Law said there were still some questionable characters on the NEC, such as Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo.
“In terms of the political balance of power, it’s a very, very strong win by Ramaphosa. It’s much stronger than his position in 2017.”
He said Ramaphosa will be pleased with the NEC and the overall outcome of the conference.
Law said: “As a politician, you’re never so strong as after a big win and he’s had a number of big wins recently, not just in conference, but in the NEC (meeting earlier this month) and in Parliament (where the Section 89 report was brought up).”
Mbalula also announced that two delegates died on the road back to the Mzala Nxumalo region in KZN.
soyiso.maliti@inl.co.za