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Voting progressing slowly in Maungaung

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Voting for a new top six leadership of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) at the party’s elective conference in Mangaung, is continuing this morning, albeit slowly.
Delegates waiting to vote took to social media platforms to talk about the wait, but were generally upbeat.
Buti Manamela, National Secretary of the Yong Communist League (YCL), tweeted often, amongst others saying, at about 11pm last night: “Voting now started #ANCMangaung2012. Hark, Vrystaat!” This morning the good mood prevailed, with him Tweeting at about 6am: “Still on #voting-que. Sunrise guaranteed. Chanting slogans from the length & breadth of #limpopo. #continuity&change.”
The media were also watching the proceedings closely, although some from their beds while following key individuals on Twitter. All indications were that pre-emptive celebrations for different camp within the ANC were set to continue today after they kicked off in the late hours of yesterday. Yesterday riot police kept a close eye as different groupings faced off in a tense stand-off outside the University of the Free State (UFS) campus where the congress is being held.
More than four thousand ANC delegates are voting in Mangaung with results of the election of the top six expected today. Incumbent, Jacob Zuma and his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe are running for the party presidency. Tokyo Sexwale, Mathews Phosa and Cyril Ramaphosa are contesting the position of ANC deputy president. Fikile Mbalula is battling it out with the incumbent Gwede Mantashe for position of secretary-general.
The voting happens with a threat of an interdict hanging over the conference, but the ANC has taken precautionary measures with the Free State and North West delegates voting on different coloured ballots. This will be crucial should it be necessary to separate them from the final count. All eyes are on the Constitutional court that will give clarity on the implications of last week’s judgement that declared the Free State Elective conference illegal and set aside the election of the executive committee and its decisions. The ANC and disgruntled groups have differed on the implications of the judgement with groups claiming it bars all Free State delegates from attending, but the ANC disagreed.
As the leadership of the ANC dominates news headlines locally and internatonally, investors and global leaders are closely monitoring debates around calls for radical changes of socio-economic policies. A draft of the ruling party’s policies will come under scrutiny when delegates at the Mangaung elective conference review government performance.

– By Christelle du Toit

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