The African National Congress (ANC) deputy presidential hopeful Paul Mashatile seems to be skating on thin ice with some delegates in Gauteng vowing to withdraw their support for his bid for the party’s second in command.
They are accusing Mashatile of abondoning party president Cyril Ramaphosa and calling on him to resign at the National Working Committee meeting on the back of the Phala Phala saga.
Some of the delegates are picketing outside the venue of the ANC National Executive Committee meeting called to discuss Ramaphosa’s fate at Nasrec, south of Johannesburg.
One of the Gauteng delegates Maropeng Serakwana says Mashatile is opportunistic and self-serving.
Bullied
Last month, the ANC KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Chairperson, Siboniso Duma, said they will not be bullied by other provinces into supporting Mashatile for the position of deputy president. This comes as the ANC gears up for its 55th National Conference at Nasrec in Johannesburg in December.
The party in KZN said it is still in talks with other provinces to ensure that the ANC emerges as a united force after the conference in December.
As the ANC 55th National Conference approaches, lobbying and campaigning intensifies. Some provinces, including Limpopo and Gauteng have nominated Mashatile to be the Deputy President, a position currently occupied by David Mabuza.
However, Duma, said lobbying is still under way, until December the 16 when the conference begins.
He said the ANC can’t have the entire leadership coming from Gauteng, for the party has to show some diversity.
VIDEO: Discussion on ANC Top 6 nominations ahead of 55th National Conference:
