By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) on Wednesday announced its 80 additional members of the national executive committee (NEC).
The NEC is the party’s highest decision-making body between conferences.
According to the ANC more than 250 members sought a spot in the NEC, while over 4,000 delegates voted.
The electoral committee chairperson Kgalema Motlanthe said the election body was given a mandate to ensure that it delivers results that are credible.
Motlanthe said the total eligible delegates were 4436 in total but only 4019 cast their votes.The top five is made up of: Sihle Zikalala, Mduduzi Manana, Ronald Lamola, Mdumiseni Ntuli and Bheki Cele. Former Gauteng Premier David Makhura has also made it to the additional members of the NEC.
Of the 80 additional members, 41 are women and 31 men. Given the fact that three women were already elected as national officials, the total number of women is now 44 in this recently elected NEC, which is 87 in total.
Bathabile Dlamini, who was disqualified from standing, has also made it to the additional members after the NEC decided to allow her to stand on the basis that she had paid a fine after being found guilty of perjury.
Veteran leaders Blade Nzimande, Naledi Pandor and Pravin Gordhan are among the high-profile leaders who failed to make it to the committee.
Another ANC veteran who won’t be making a comeback is Tony Yengeni – who had been an NEC member since 2007.
Yengeni was previously disqualified from standing as an ANC NEC candidate due to his 2003 conviction for fraud.
However, after producing evidence of his expunged criminal record, the ANC’s electoral committee reversed its decision.
Former party deputy president David Mabuza was not announced as an NEC member, which is a double blow for his political career.
The political future of ANC Eastern Cape provincial executive member Andile Lungisa hangs in the balance as the party still has to discuss whether his suspension will be lifted. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says a final decision around Lungisa’s fate will be made by 5 January 2023.
Over the weekend, Cyril Ramaphosa and his supporters managed to garner enough support to install some of his trusted lieutenants in the party’s top ranks — even if by a small margin.
Winning a second term as ANC president, Ramaphosa was elected alongside Gwede Mantashe as national chair, Mbalula as secretary-general, Maropene Ramokgopa as second deputy secretary-general and Gwen Ramokgopa as treasurer.
Nomvula Mokonyane and Paul Mashatile, voted in as first deputy secretary-general and deputy president respectively, are the only top officials who are not part of Ramaphosa’s camp.
They will hold office for the next five years.
#ANCNC55 Results of the ANC NEC additional members as announced by the Electoral Committee Chaired by comrade Kgalema Motlanthe. pic.twitter.com/ZFLDDt2GSd
— African National Congress #ANCNC55 (@MYANC) December 21, 2022
The NEC is the highest decision-making body of the ANC between national conferences. The structure has the authority to lead the organisation, subject to the provisions of the party’s constitution.
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