By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
File image. Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina.
Former Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina on Sunday announced that he is withdrawing his candidacy for African National Congress treasurer general.
The announcement comes hours after delegates attending the 55th national conference started voting for the top seven positions at Nasrec on Sunday.
Masina and Pule Mabe, longtime allies, were going to face off with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s adviser Bejani Chauke for the same position.
NEC member Gwen Ramokgopa’s name was raised from the floor for the same position, she reached the threshold and will be on the ballot — making the position of treasurer the most contested in quantity.
Masina said that Mabe and himself have the same values and supporters, and they don’t want to split the voters.
In what was seemingly a fall out between close comrades, some claimed Masina was at odds with the Gauteng executive because it supported Mabe’s campaign. The province had charged Masina with bringing the party into disrepute after bringing a motion of no confidence in the mayor, Tania Campbell.
He cited change, comradeship, and sharing a common goal as his reasons for pulling out of the position to hold the party’s purse.
“In the ANC, we don’t stop engaging until the last minute. We have been engaging with the leadership of Gauteng, and we have agreed that we will support comrade Mabe as treasurer-general.
“Unfortunately by the time we agreed, the ballot was printed and people had already started voting, but we have demobilised so that we don’t divide our support,” he said.
Masina will rally behind Zweli Mkhize for president of the party.