By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has got the overwhelming majority of nominations from the ANC’s approximately 4,000 branches around South Africa.
Ramaphosa, who was elected to lead the ANC on a reform ticket in 2017, when former president Jacob Zuma was ousted from the party’s leadership, won eight out of nine provincial nominations, with former health minister Zweli Mkhize coming in second.
ANC’s head of electoral committee, Kgalema Motlanthe said Ramaphosa received 2,037 nominations while Mkhize received 916.
For the deputy president position, current treasurer-general Paul Mashatile lead nominations with 1 791 branches endorsing him for the post.
There are expected to be three names on the ballot for this position with Justice Minister Ronald Lamola receiving 427 nominations and Eastern Cape ANC chairperson Oscar Mabuyane received support from 397 ANC branches.
Incumbent deputy president David Mabuza only managed to garner 77 nominations, disqualifying him from the ballot.
Limpopo ANC chairperson Stanley Mathabatha also looks likely to be the next ANC national chairperson after receiving 1 492 nominations compared to incumbent chairperson Gwede Mantashe’s 979.
David Masondo, the youngest candidate to raise his hand for national chairperson, received 501 nominations.
Former KZN secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli received a resounding vote of confidence when he received 1 225 nominations for the secretary-general position.
He garnered pockets of support in all provinces of the ANC with the bulk of his support coming from KZN even though there, the majority of branches endorsed his rival, former Eastern Cape premier and deputy minister Phumulo Masualle. In total, Masualle received 889 nominations.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, who was punted by Ramaphosa’s allies as the best person to take over as secretary-general, looks likely to miss out again after he only amassed 749 nominations.
The deputy secretary-general position would be a race between Nomvula Mokonyane who leads the race with 1 779 nominations and Fébé Potgieter-Gqubule who received 905.
Montlanthe was speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon at the ANC’s Luthuli House.
He announced the names of the top six position in the ANC’s national executive committee.
The names were of people who were nominated by the ANC branches across the country.
“Our records indicate that a total of 3 543 out of a grand total 3 982 branches in good standing have held successful branch general meetings which produced the approved outcomes of the nominations for both branch delegates and NEC candidates.
He added, this effectively means that 89% of the ANC branches have successfully participated in the nomination process thus comfortably surpassing the 70% threshold required for the national conference to take place as per the ANC constitution.
Motlanthe said the candidates have been vetted and all accepted their nominations.
Here are the nominees and the numbers:
President: Cyril Ramaphosa (2037); Zweli Mkize (916)
Deputy president: Paul Mashatile (1791); Ronald Lamola (427); Oscar Mabunyane (397)
Secretary general: Ndumiseni Ntuli (1225); Phumulo Masualle (427); Mbalula (749)
Deputy secretary general: Nomvula Mokonyane (1779); Febe Potgieter (905)
Chairperson: Mathabatha (1492); Gwede Mantashe (978); David Masondo (501)
Treasurer general: Benjamin Chauke (552); Pule Mabe (428); Mzwandile Masina (348)
More than 4 000 ANC delegates are expected to participate in the upcoming national conference, which is scheduled to be held at Nasrec Expo from December 16 to 20.