POLITICS

President Cyril Ramaphosa emerged as the overall winner when the results of the ANC’s top seven were announced on Monday morning.

Not only did he win the presidency with 2476 votes against stiff opposition from former health minister Zweli Mkhize who got 1897 votes, but four of his allies were also elected to the top seven.

This includes Gwede Mantashe, who retained his national chairperson position, despite a very close contest with Stan Mathabatha. Mantashe won by less than 50 votes. Mantashe garnered 2062 while Mathabatha received 2018 votes.

READ: Ramaphosa's unhappy allies agree to be dropped from slate

Another key ally of the president, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, was elected as secretary-general. This was a surprise result because Ndumiseni Ntuli had the most nominations leading up to the conference.

The new treasurer-general of the ANC, Gwen Ramokgopa, is also a Ramaphosa ally. Her win was a major surprise, as she was only nominated from the floor in the early hours of Sunday morning. She defeated outgoing ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe and Ramaphosa’s adviser, Bejani Chauke.

READ: 'Political animals, it's in their nature to hold different views' – Mabe

The last person in Ramaphosa’s slate to make the cut was Maropene Ramokgopa. She was elected second deputy secretary-general.

The Mkhize slate only managed to win two of the seven posts – with the election of Paul Mashatile as the deputy president and Nomvula Mokonyane as the first deputy secretary-general.

The numbers

'Overjoyed'

Speaking after Ramaphosa’s win, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele said the president’s re-election was not only a good thing for the country but also for the economy and its continuous drive to "fight for a clear South Africa that must be a competitive nation and a noble participant among the nations of the world. I am excited. I feel like a child". 

Overjoyed Police Minister Bheki Cele said the outcome demonstrated that ANC delegates were "sober".

His reaction to the results was: "I feel absolutely gorgeous."

Asked whether he was confident about his election to the NEC, he said it was in the hands of delegates.

Spokesperson for the ANC in the Eastern Cape Gift Ngqondi dismissed Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s failure to win a top-seven position.

"We are not disturbed that comrade Oscar did not get the position of deputy president. We are not disappointed. We are overjoyed.

"Our programme and agenda have been affirmed by this conference because our main objective was to ensure that Cyril Ramaphosa was retained as the president of the ANC because he had been the champion of renewal and the torchbearer of unity in the ANC."

Speaking about Mabuyane’s position in the province, Ngqondi said he remained the provincial chairperson of the ANC.

"He has also been the champion of renewal in the province and torchbearer of unity in the province. He will go back to the province and make sure that the ANC is strong.

"We are the only province that has been winning by-elections so that tells you that we have a strong election machinery of the ANC."

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the outcome of the election of the ANC's top seven "suggests continuity".

"There’ve been worries about the economic part [in the run-up to the elective conference] and we’ve been trying to tell people that what matters in the ANC is the economic policy, not the individual."

On the election of three women into the top seven, it’s a major breakthrough Godongwana said.

"Several people have been saying there is no commitment to women's leadership in the ANC. We now have in the top seven three women, which demonstrates the ANC’s commitment to that."

Asked whether the president would be more assertive now that he’s secured a second term, Godongwana responded: "I would imagine so. He has to leave a legacy of some kind."