By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has deployed its senior leaders to Luthuli House on a full-time basis following its national conference.
Former Gauteng premier and ANC provincial chairperson David Makhura has been appointed head of political education and Former health minister Zweli Mkhize appointed as the head of the social transformation committee.
Makhura, who served in the provincial leadership structures and provincial government for a number of years, resigned last year paving the way for Panyaza Lesufi to take over the reigns.
Makhura’s tasks at Luthuli House includes looking at coalitions. Coalitions at local level have been unstable since the polls three years ago.
While Mkhize’s move is seen as the “extending of an olive branch” by the newly elected NEC, largely made up President Cyril Ramaphosa backers, and said that it was “proactively fostering unity.”
The party’s secretary-general Fikile Mbalula made the announcement in a media briefing on Tuesday following the party’s NEC meeting.
The party finalised its sub-committees following the election of a new NEC at the national conference in December.
Mbalula said the NEC members have been deployed to support organisational work at Luthuli House.
Former KwaZulu-Natal secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli will head up the party’s election team. Sibongile Besani will remain the party’s head of presidency while the party’s former general manager Febe Potgieter has been appointed as head of research.
“She will continue with her role as general manager until 31 March 2023, by which time a new incumbent would have been appointed,” said Mbalula.
Mduduzi Manana will be heading the party’s organising and membership while Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri will be the party’s national spokesperson.
On the sub-committees, the party appointed deputy president Paul Mashatile as chair of the deployment committee.
This while Reverend Frank Chikane has been appointed to chair the Integrity Commission, with party stalwart Sophie de Bruyn as his deputy.
The commission is expected to deal with issues that were outstanding before the December conference, including the report on the robbery that took place at Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo.
Other members of the integrity commission include Sue Rabkin, Cyril Jantjies, Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Nkele Ntingane, Thandi Rankoe, Jenny Schreiner James Ngculu and Len Rasekgatla.
Ralph Mgijima has been appointed as chairperson of the National Disciplinary Committee. NEC members Faith Muthambi and Nocawe Mafu also formed part of the committee.
Mmamokolo Kubayi, a loyal Ramaphosa ally, will continue in her position as chairperson of economic transformation.
Newly elected NEC member Zuko Godlimpi will deputise Kubayi. Sibongile Besani will remain head of the Presidency.
Mbalula also disputed claims that Ramaphosa is holding up the process of shuffling his cabinet, saying the ANC was still in the process of finalising its programme of action.
“We have been dealing with January 8, we have produced January 8, we have finalised our resolutions and we have reconfigured ourselves in terms of the NEC.
“We have finalised the resolutions of the conference, they are ready to be printed. Now we are developing a programme of action.
“In government, we had the State of the Nation Address then the budget and then from there all of these issues we’ve got to have answers and they’ll be closed.
“All of these things should be wrapped up within the month of February, President is applying his mind on a whole lot of issues, and within the month of February all of these issues including cabinet reshuffle should be finalised,” added Mbalula.
The reshuffle could see a host of senior ministers leaving the executive after failing to secure a seat on the ANC’s 80-member NEC during the December national conference.
This includes Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor, and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa.