Eastern Cape ANC wants continuity
2012-10-09 17:31
Johannesburg - The ANC in the Eastern Cape said on Tuesday it wants President Jacob Zuma to lead the party for another term. "We are for continuity with change," spokesperson Mlibo Qoboshiyane said.
The provincial party favoured Kgalema Motlanthe to stay on for another term as African National Congress deputy president.
"But if he is standing as president, we are prepared to agree on the deputy president being one of the most known businesspeople... Cyril Ramaphosa," Qoboshiyane said.
The province wanted Baleka Mbete to serve again as chairperson, and Gwede Mantashe as secretary general.
Jessie Duarte should be elected deputy secretary general while Naledi Pandor should join the ANC's "top six", he said.
"All our regions have pronounced, and taken the same decision... the majority of our regions agree," Qoboshiyane said.
The OR Tambo region, Buffalo City Metropolitan region and Nelson Mandela Bay region all agreed on Zuma as president, he said.
Many of the branches would meet this weekend to finalise their nominations. Branch general meetings should be concluded by 20 November, and then a provincial nomination conference would take place.
Nominations for candidates for the ANC's top leadership positions opened at the beginning of the month. The party's national elections would take place in Mangaung in December at the ANC's national conference.
The Eastern Cape would send 676 out of the total of 4 103 delegates attending the conference. This made it the second biggest province behind KwaZulu-Natal, with 974 delegates.
- SAPA
