All or nothing for Kgalema Motlanthe

2012-12-17 14:52

Xolani Mbanjwa, City Press

Bloemfontein - It's all or nothing for Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe in the race for the ANC top job, after he withdrew his candidacy for the position of party deputy president.

Motlanthe made the shock decision when the agency that will run the elections on Monday asked whether any of the candidates for deputy president would withdraw their names.

His withdrawal was met with jubilation from pro-Jacob Zuma supporters who cheered while the provinces that have supported Motlanthe - Limpopo, Gauteng and the Western Cape - seemed unperturbed by the decision.

This means that Motlanthe, who has also been nominated for a seat in the ANC’s 80-member national executive committee, will only be on the ballot paper for the position of president.

In another surprise move, Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and Public Service Minister Lindiwe Sisulu withdrew their candidacy for the treasurer general post.

Head of monitoring in the ANC, Jessie Duarte, was elected unopposed as deputy secretary-general after Thandi Modise, Febe Potgieter-Gqubule and Thenjiwe Mtintso withdrew their nominations. This means that Duarte’s name would not be on the ballot papers that will be prepared for the elections which are expected to take place on Monday afternoon.

 

- City Press