Motlanthe mum on nomination reports
2012-12-12 19:02
Johannesburg - Kgalema Motlanthe's spokesperson Thabo Masebe declined on Wednesday to confirm the reports that the deputy president will run against President Jacob Zuma at the ANC's national conference in Mangaung.
SAfm, one of three radio stations to report the news, had "reliably learnt" that Motlanthe would accept nominations for the top position in the African National Congress.
Eyewitness News and Jacaranda News carried similar reports.
But, Masebe said the "matter is now in the hands of the ANC's electoral commission".
"I
know they have been in contact with the deputy president, but the deputy
president won't make any statements about that because he respects the
fact the electoral commission is responsible for the process of
nominations."
Masebe said the ANC's electoral commission would announce who was nominated.
The commission is scheduled to hold a news briefing in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Meanwhile, ANC treasurer Mathews Phosa confirmed to Sapa he had accepted the nomination to stand for the deputy presidency.
"I've accepted the nomination by the ANC branches for me to stand as deputy president," said Phosa.
"I am abiding by what they [the ANC branches] put forward to me."
Jacaranda FM on its Twitter page said Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula had also accepted nomination for the position of secretary general.
His spokesperson Justin de Allende said: "He is a member of the ANC. As a member of the ANC he's eligible and duty-bound to accept any form of deployment, as members of the ANC, request of us..."
- SAPA
