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Mbeki consolidates support
14/01/2007 08:03 - (SA)
S'Thembiso Msomi
Johannesburg - The campaign by President Thabo Mbeki to restore control of the ANC received a massive boost when thousands displayed their loyalty to him in Witbank, Mpumalanga, on Saturday.
In addition, the suspended ANC Youth League (ANCYL) leadership in the Eastern Cape was effectively reinstated.
More than 90% of the thousands who attended the rally to celebrate the 95 anniversary of the ANC were wearing T-shirts with Mbeki's face.
They also sang pro-Mbeki songs. A crowd gathered round him when he descended from the helicopter, with people pushing one another to try to get a better glimpse of him.
Efforts to rally the ANC around Mbeki also got a major boost when the suspended Eastern Cape provincial executive committee (PEC) of the ANCYL, known to be pro-Mbeki, was effectively reinstated after meeting with ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe.
The provincial leadership was earlier suspended by the ANCYL national executive committee, which is known for its public support of Zuma to succeed Mbeki as president of South Africa.
However, the disbandment controversy took another turn on Friday when Motlanthe met with the axed provincial leadership.
Although the ANCYL national executive insisted that it had every right to disband the PEC, it now appears that the ANC may want to reverse that decision.
According to ANCYL insiders at the meeting between the PEC and Motlanthe it was resolved to organise a provincial conference by April, meaning that the disbanded PEC would be treated as a legitimate structure until then.
ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula said on Saturday that he was not aware of the outcome of Motlanthe's Eastern Cape meeting and that they would only be meeting the ANC secretary-general later.
Mbeki and Zuma went out of their way to present a united front. They entered the packed Atlantic stadium together and walked side by side around the field greeting throngs of cheering ANC members.
They occasionally danced together holding hands and even shared a joke.
Mbeki read the January 8 statement that called on ANC members to go back and work in the branches.
"We are now calling on all leaders of the organisation, all public representatives, deployees, veterans and former activists to undertake work in their branches."
ANC branches account for 90% of the votes at ANC national conferences. With the party set to hold what is probably its most important conference since 1994 the focus is now shifting to branches where supporters of various presidential hopefuls will be canvassing for support. The conference is in December.
Mbeki and Zuma are at the forefront of the race, but indications are that a number of senior ANC leaders and business personalities are eyeing the top position in the organisation.
Over the past two years, the succession battle has split the organisation and turned comrade against comrade.
Succession debate
Although the succession battle did not dominate proceedings on Saturday, it remains the key issue for most ANC members.
In his address on Saturday Mbeki steered clear of the succession battle and focused on outlining the party's political programme for this year.
Mbeki said members should work hard to strengthen the tripartite alliance. "Our task is to build the alliance. We must prove to people who make false predictions that the alliance will end, that they are wrong."
Tensions between the ANC and its alliance partners Cosatu and the SA Communist Party (SACP) have heightened over the last 18 months mainly due to the succession battle.
The President's remarks on Saturday were interpreted as an attempt by the ruling party to heal the rift within the alliance. SACP general secretary Blade Nzimande earlier expressed similar sentiments to those of Mbeki.
Emphasising the importance of strengthening branches ahead of the national conference, and the national policy conference in June, Mbeki told supporters that branches would be expected to do "a lot of work".
"It is therefore important that branch delegates to conference are empowered to determine the direction of the organisation."
- City Press
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