African National Congress will be holding its national conference in December where new leadership of the party’s top six will be elected. These leaders will drive the policies and resolutions of the movement further in the next five years.
What is going to be a mammoth task however, is holding these elections in a peaceful manner as it stands, the movement is being wrecked apart by factional battles as comrades are vying for top leadership.
Amidst all the chaos, factions of the ANC are busy compiling a list of candidates they want to contest for the top six leadership positions in December. Some CR17 comrades in two provinces, Limpopo and Eastern Cape have already come out endorsing president Cyril Ramaphosa to run for a second term.
They argue that his able leadership is still required to steer the country in the right direction for another five years. Another ally of Cyril Ramaphosa, Ronald Lamola is also eyeing the deputy president position competing against the incumbent, David Mabuza.
Likewise, the Radical Economic Transformation forces also have a list of their own candidates they want to contest at the party’s national conference in December.
The list shared on social shows that suspended secretary general, Ace Magashule, is their preferred candidate to contest against Cyril Ramaphosa. This comes after there have been numerous speculations that Tourism minister, Lindiwe Sisulu might contest Ramaphosa for presidency.
For the deputy president position, the RET forces want Lindiwe Sisulu to fill in that post. Former minister of health, Zweli Mkhize is touted as the incoming chairperson of the ANC and he is alleged to have a strong backing from his home province, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Zuma’s ally and former North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo is set to contest for the secretary general position. Late last year, when Mahumapelo went out to support Zuma at the Pietermaritzburg High Court, ANC RET forces were chanting incoming ‘SG…SG’ upon his arrival.
Other candidates touted for top six positions by the RET forces include Nomvula Mokonyane who will be the deputy secretary general, while former minister of finance, Malusi Gigaba will compete for the treasurer general position currently held by Paul Mashatile.