HOW BIG IS RAMAPHOSA’S LEAD IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE?

With just 35 days to go to the ANC’s much anticipated 54th elective conference, various campaigns have now entered their final push to garner support for their preferred candidate to succeed President Jacob Zuma.

Limpopo remains a key battleground for Presidential hopefuls with those in support of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa fighting tooth and nail to ensure their candidate is nominated during the nomination branch general meetings (BGMs) that are currently underway.

Information provided to Pride News reveals that Ramaphosa is leading in terms of nominations in the province, however, his visit to Limpopo this weekend disappointed some of his supporters after he named a team he wants to lead the governing party with, in a rally at Tafelkop stadium in the Sekhukhune region on Sunday.

During his address, Ramaphosa named Science and Technology Minister and ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) Member Naledi Pandor as his preferred deputy should he ascend to the Presidential post in the party’s conference next month.

He also revealed that he wants former Kwazulu-Natal premier and ANC provincial chairperson Senzo Mchunu to become the secretary general of the party, while naming current secretary general Gwede Mantashe, as his preferred candidate to occupy the national chairperson position.

Ramaphosa also told crowds gathered at the stadium that he wants Gauteng ANC chair Paul Mashatile, to lead in his collective as the treasurer general. However, this has been met with heavy criticism across ANC structures, including some of his staunch supporters with many in the ANC describing Ramaphosa’s utterances as foreign to party customs.

Mantashe himself issued a scathing statement against Ramaphosa’s move saying, “Such pronouncements are unacceptable whether comrades have a preference or not and seek to usurp the entrenched right of the branches to nominate candidates of their choosing.”

In an about turn, Ramaphosa clarified his position and said the names he mentioned arose from interactions with branches and were not ‘prescriptive’. He argues that branches have the right to nominate their preferred candidates.

While many argue that Ramaphosa could have dug his own grave this weekend, it remains to be seen whether the nominations he’s received from branches will translate into votes next month.
When he returned to politics at his election in the Mangaung conference it was argued that he does not have a constituency in the ANC but this seems to have changed as ANC branches in Limpopo and other parts of the country now seem to be firmly behind him.

During his visit to Limpopo on the weekend, Ramaphosa was received by Vha-Venda King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana in the Vhembe region.

During the visit, Ramaphosa received blessings from traditional leaders in Venda, led by the King who gave him a shield and spear, which he says should be used to fight a noble and just cause as he ventures into the presidential race. He further indicated that he is impressed by the leadership style of “The president-in-waiting, Cyril Ramaphosa.”

”We are extremely happy that this man humbled himself. He came to this area, asked for blessings from religious leaders, which he got, and visited me, asking for support. We will give him all the support as a leader and more specifically because he is from this part of the country,” says King Mphephu Ramabulana.

Although he’s received support from his home province, Ramaphosa faces a tough challenge ahead as Zuma has made it clear that he does not want him as his successor and has instead endorsed Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Ascending to the ANC’s top post was never going to be easy for Ramaphosa, but political analyst professor Sipho Seepe says the positive thing that comes out of his ‘winning team’ announcement is that’, he’s clear about who he wants to work with and who he doesn’t want to work with.
Seepe says, “Cyril’s position in Limpopo, many others will see it as positive, so you could also say he’s trying to mordernise the ANC, to say let us be real and recognise that slates exist, what he was saying is that he doesn’t work with Zweli Mkhize, David Mabuza or Lindiwe Sisulu. By bringing Pandor, he is bringing someone without scandals and she is a disciplined and hardworking woman, “says Seepe.
Seepe, however, says this could go either way as delegates with deep political consciousness in the ANC will question why Ramaphosa has been campaigning against slates only to endorse his own at the eleventh hour.

He concludes by arguing that Ramaphosa’s alleged hand in the Marikana massacre and the fact that he’s supported by the most ‘racist’ whites including the Rupperts, could also influence delegates to vote otherwise.

By Katekani Makhubele & Kaizer Nengovhela