Cape divided on top-6 ANC candidate

NOMINATIONS for the soughtafter national ANC top-six positions are trickling in, with Western Cape branches seemingly split on who to support.

At least 10 branches in the province have convened branch general meetings (BGMs), with more expected to meet next week.

Branches have until the middle of October to nominate their preferred candidates.

Provinces are expected to announce who they will then support.

The BGMs to nominate the party’s top six and the national executive committee (NEC) are set to continue simultaneously alongside BGMs to nominate the new ANC leadership in the Western Cape, communications head Sifiso Mtsweni revealed this week.

When the Western Cape conference will finally go ahead is still up in the air after the ANC NEC put all outstanding congresses in abeyance until the national conference in December.

These include the Free State, Western Cape, ANC Women’s League and the ANC Youth League.

Sources said branches have mostly thrown their weight behind President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term.

Branches differ on the position of deputy president, as some have nominated treasurer-general Paul Mashatile, while others are calling for Human Settlements Minister Mmaloko Kubayi to take over.

Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal’s Mdumiseni Ntuli has also been nominated for secretary-general.

One source said some branches in the Western Cape’s Overberg and Cape metro regions have, however, thrown their weight behind Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for president.

Political analyst Professor Zweli Ndevu said the ANC in the Western Cape would not have any bargaining power in the negotiations for top six and NEC positions.