Joburg - The showdown has begun as it is official that the two front runners for the top spot in the ANC presidential race will be current ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa and Dr Zweli Mkhize.
This was announced by the ANC Electoral Committee chair and former president Kgalema Motlanthe, as battle lines have been drawn in what has been termed the “fight for the soul of the ANC” in a highly factionalised internal political environment.
“For President Cyril Ramaphosa, the total tally of nominations is 2037, and for Dr Zwelini Mkhize, the total tally is 916. As I said, these are the two names nominated for the position of president,” said Motlanthe.
Motlanthe said for the position of deputy president of the party, leading the tally was Paul Mashatile with 1791, while Ronald Lamola received 427, almost half of those of Mashatile, and Oscar Mabuyane tallied 397 nominations.
Lamola and Mabuyane are close allies of Ramaphosa, but their tallies, even combined, do not dent the pole position of Mashatile.
For the position of chairperson, Motlanthe announced that Stanley Mathabatha was leading the pack with a tally of 1492, while Gwede Mantashe, who is looking for a second stint in the position, had a tally of 979, and David Masondo had a tally of 501.
“For the position of secretary-general, we have the following names: Mdumiseni Ntuli, and the total tally is 1225; for Phumulo Masualle, the total tally is 889; and for Fikile Mbalula, the total tally is 749,” Motlanthe said.
The SG post has been a hotbed, which has seen the current incumbent, Ace Magashule, forced to step aside.
Of the current cohort of candidates, Ntuli and Mbalula have defended Ramaphosa, especially during calls for him to step aside due to the Phala Phala farmgate scandal, while Masualle has urged Ramaphosa to step aside.
There are only two nominations for the deputy secretary-general position; Nomvula Mokonyane will be hitting the campaign trail with presidential hopeful Mkhize in Gauteng. She was leading the nominations with a tally of 1779, while Fébé Potgieter-Gqubule received 905 nominations.
“For the position of treasurer-general, we have three names nominated: Benjamin Chauke, and his total tally is 552, second is Pule Mabe, the total tally is 428, the third is Mzwandile Masina, and the total tally is 348,” he said.
Motlanthe said the process was not yet complete, as at the conference there will be an opportunity for delegates to nominate from the floor, and any name that is able to muster 25% of voting delegates will also be included on the ballot.
The Star