Big boost for Jacob Zuma

2007-11-26 07:40

Nalini Naidoo and Sapa

Durban - A KwaZulu-Natal ANC General Council of high drama and strong anti-Mbeki sentiment on Sunday saw Jacob Zuma overwhelmingly nominated as the province's candidate for president of the ANC and Premier S'bu Ndebele almost kicked off the party's national executive committee list.

Zuma now leads the nominations race, with five provinces supporting him to Mbeki's four.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma got 580 votes, Mbeki nine. In Gauteng, Zuma walked away with 263 votes, Mbeki 94. Nationally, Zuma received a total of 2 270 votes and Mbeki, 1 396.

Zuma also garnered support from Mpumalanga, the Free State and the Northern Cape. The ANC Youth League gave him their backing last week.

Mbeki won nominations in the Eastern and Western Cape, Limpopo and the North West.

Official results expected

ANC spokesperson Tiyani Rikhotso said the official results will be released on Monday, when the ANC Women's League will also announce its nomination.

Ndebele's close call came when candidates were reviewing the 60 names selected on the NEC list. Electoral officer Charles Nupen told them they could not add names to the list but could make changes, and these would be accepted if they received 51% of the vote.

This was when a candidate from kwaDukuza proposed removing Ndebele, who is perceived as an Mbeki supporter, from the list and replacing him with Home Affairs Deputy Minister Malusi Gigasa. There were several seconders to the proposal, eliciting a robust debate.

Senior ANC members stepped in, reminding younger members to think about the political fall-out of such a move. They said KZN must go to Polokwane as a united province.

The provincial leadership then called for a break so they could consult and the 11 branches caucused separately on the matter.

Council reconvened and agreed to accept the list with two amendments made earlier. These called for the removal of Mbeki supporters Joel Netshitenzhe and Justice Minister Bridget Mabandla, to be replaced by former deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge and Ugu district deputy mayor Ruth Bhengu.

KZN is also determined to see Zuma as president of the country. In their discussion on policy issues, candidates will take their proposal for one centre of power to Polokwane.

They want the president of the ANC to be the president of the country. They are also planning to call for the party's constitution to be changed so the ANC's president's time in office is limited to two terms, like that of the president of the country.

Voting for the top six candidates matched the list proposed by all 11 branches in the province and the Zuma candidates got well over 98% of the vote.

KZN's choice includes Zuma for president, Kgalema Motlanthe (deputy president), Nkosana Dlamini-Zuma (party chair), ex-unionist Gwede Mantashe (secretary-general), parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete (deputy secretary-general) and former Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa (treasurer).

- The Witness