As the clock is ticking for the African National Congress Elective Conference, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaign is gaining momentum in the Eastern Cape.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Provincial General Council commissions in East London, ANC provincial chairperson Oscar Mabuyane says he is confident that Ramaphosa will emerge as the party president at the elective conference.
The ANC in the Eastern Cape will be sending the third biggest delegation to the December in Gauteng next week.
This week the provincial general council commissions have been busy consolidating for the conference.
Mabuyane says the province will make meaningful contribution at the conference.
Last week, the ANC Provincial General Council nominated Ramaphosa as the party president.
Mabuyane says they will lobby other province to vote for Ramaphosa at the elective congress.
“We have been given a mandate to lobby other provinces. We are talking to every comrades. We are part of team that’s lobbying nationally, where we say ‘save ANC out of these challenges.'”
The commissions have been discussing a number of issues including education, health and economic transformation.
Mabuyana says they want the conference to discuss the issues of the election of senior party members including president.
Meanwhile, all ANC Eastern Cape officials involved in the Nelson Mandela funeral scandal have to account for their part in it to the Provincial Executive Committee on Monday.
Premier Phumulo Masualle is among those summoned by the ANC leadership.
Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane released damning findings last week on the misappropriation of funds intended for former President Nelson Mandela’s funeral in 2013.
The report says the provincial government and some municipalities improperly spent public funds amounting to R300 million.
Provincial Secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi says, “We be tabling our response on the Mandela Scandal we are speaking about the provincial government our relations with it the premier is going to be part of the Monday meeting because we have requested that particular discussion with him .”
The ANC will be discuss preparations and transport arrangements for the December conference at its special PEC meeting on Monday.
