The African National Congress’s 54th Elective Conference will go down in history as one of the most highly contested ever.
At least six candidates were gunning for the party’s top position.
David Mabuza played his cards close to the chest, not endorsing either of the two frontrunners.
His meteoric rise to the ANC’s number two spot was not a surprise.
Born in August 1960, the former teacher served as Mpumalanga Education MEC from 1994 until 1998.
When the province’s matric examinations came under the spotlight, it transpired that the pass rate had been artificially escalated by 20%.
The scandal claimed his scalp. Mabazu moved to Parliament as an MP, from 2001 to 2004.
He then returned to provincial politics and was elected ANC Mpumalanga chair in 2008.
He was appointed Premier after backing President Jacob Zuma at the Polokwane elective conference.
Two years ago, Mabuza accused ANC veteran Mathews Phosa of defamation.
This, after Phosa sent a memorandum to Luthuli House, accusing Mabuza of being an apartheid spy.
Mabuza claimed R10 million in damages from Phosa. The lawsuit was dismissed in the High Court.
Two weeks before the Nasrec Elective Conference, the two were involved in another confrontation.
Phosa alleged that Mabuza was operating a private army in Mpumalanga, to intimidate opposition.
Mabuza dismissed the allegation as a fabrication. The ANC in Mpumalanga rallied behind him.
ANC spokesperson Mpumalanga Sasekani Manzini says:”Phosa maliciously accused the provincial chairperson comrade DD Mabuza of having a personal militia which goes around disrupting branch general meetings and intimidating members of the ANC.”
Mabuza was now focussed on the elective conference and the number two spot.
He started rallying his troops in 2016 and increased the ANC membership, his plans were starting to take shape.
During the party’s Provincial General Council, the unity narrative gained traction.
He wanted a consensus leadership and Mpumalanga was the kingpin province.
When Mabuza was elected ANC deputy president in mid-December, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma supporters accused him of betrayal.
They were hoping he would endorse her and that the province would help her ascend to the top post.
On his return from the Nasrec conference, a prayer service was held for Mabuza.
Several ANC NEC members attended. But the newly elected Deputy President was absent.
Mabuza was surrounded by controversies and 2 spate of political killings among others.
But he emerged triumphantly and it’s said he has his eyes set on the Union Building.
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