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N West nominates Dlamini-Zuma as presidential candidate

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African National Congress (ANC) in North West says it will lobby structures in other provinces to rally behind Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s ANC presidential campaign.

It announced this at its Provincial General Council where Dlamini-Zuma received 291 nominations against 45 for deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa.

The PGC was held in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria. More calls for unity in the ANC were reiterated at the PGC.

Dlamini-Zuma has been confirmed the presidential candidate for ANC in North West, ending months of speculation about the province’s preference.

ANC chairperson in North West Supra Mahumapelo says they will now focus on lobbying their counterparts in other provinces, to support Dlamini-Zuma.

“The leadership of the ANC in the province has now been officially mandated, remember, we have not had an official position until ten minutes ago, has now officially been mandated to lead a campaign of engagement throughout the country, to unashamedly and without any fear or doubt, contradictions or prejudice to go and lobby the rest of the provinces, throughout the country to say, our position is Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.”

And the issue of delegates being bought prior to the conference was also mentioned, with ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe calling on delegates who will be attending the national elective conference on the 16th, to vote with consciousness.

Mantashe says there’s no problem with lobbying, as long as it does not go with threats and bribery.

“It’s even worse at this point in time in the ANC where money is being used as a tool for lobbying. Now, the problem with money, I want to say it whether you throw me out of this meeting or not. I pass this message wherever I go, is that money forces delegates to vote against mandates of the branches.”

But the PGC did not go without disagreements among the members, with some saying there are bogus branches, and as a result wrong people will be attending the national elective conference.

This triggered scolding from the provincial secretary Dakota Legoete, who told members to go through the right channels when lodging complaints about credentials.

“The plenary of the PGC comrades, it’s not the relevant method in terms of our processes, to raise disputes. I think all of us are aware, with the booklets that we have, where disputes and appeals are raised. This one is not one of the processes.”

Over a hundred disputes have been lodged by branches in North West, and the NEC’s dispute resolution committee has attended to some of them.

Mantashe and Mahumapelo implored on delegates to promote unity in the movement, and not allow leadership preferences divide them.

Other nominees in the North West list are David Mabuza for deputy president, Nathi Mthetwa for national chairperson, Ace Magashule for Secretary General, Jesse Duarte for Deputy Secretary General and Maite Nkoana Mashabane for the position of Treasurer.

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