ANC slate voting triumphs

2012-12-18 16:02

(Picture: AFP)

Johannesburg - ANC voters seemed to stick closely to their slates in appointing the party's new Zuma-aligned national executive committee in Mangaung on Tuesday.

Singing and dancing greeted the announcements of the voting results that saw Jacob Zuma re-elected party president and Cyril Ramaphosa brought in to replace Kgalema Motlanthe as deputy president.

National executive committee candidates identified with supporting Zuma were elected with convincing margins.

A total of 3 977 delegates voted. Zuma defeated Motlanthe with 2 983 votes to 991.

As the announcement was made, the election presiding officer had to repeatedly call for order as the crowd cheered, waved flags and blew vuvuzelas.

Ramaphosa received 3 018 votes against 463 cast for Tokyo Sexwale and 470 cast for Mathews Phosa. The crowd reacted by rolling their hands, a gesture usually used to signal a call for a soccer player's substitution, indicating delight at the change.

Gwede Mantashe retained his position as secretary general with 3 058 votes to his opponent Fikile Mbalula's 901.

Jessie Duarte was appointed deputy secretary general unopposed.

ANC national chairperson Baleka Mbete retained her position with 3 010 votes against current deputy secretary-general Thandi Modise's 939.

The new treasurer general is KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Zweli Mkhize, who received 2 988 votes to the delight of the cheering crowd.

The announcement of Paul Mashatile's 961 votes was met with boos from delegates.

There were a handful of spoilt votes and abstentions in the voting for each candidate.

The newly-elected candidates hugged each other as they made their way onto the stage, with Zuma going for a double hug with Ramaphosa.

Shortly after the voting announcements were made, a prayer was said. The announcer asked delegates to pray for the God of all previous ANC presidents, ending with

"The God of Mandela, the God of Mbeki, and yes the God of Zuma..." The crowd cheered.

- SAPA