President Cyril Ramaphosa’s grip on power in the ANC seems strengthened by the selection of key allies as members of the national working committee (NWC).
The influential NWC which effectively runs the governing party-consists of the top seven officials and 20 additional members, drawn from the 80-memeber NEC, which was elected at the party’s national conference in December.
The outcome is a huge win for Ramaphosa- and a blow to his opponents in the party- and a further consolidation of his power in the ANC going into the national and general elections next year.
The ANC NEC elected 20 members to its NWC. This committee helps run the daily decisions of the ANC and makes recommendations to the NEC.
The party’s NWC is filled with members who have publicly backed the president, including current Human Settlements Mmamoloko Kubayi and Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele.
Kubayi, who previously ran for the deputy president position and was a key supporter of Ramaphosa, topped the list with 57 votes.
She was followed by Environment Minister Barbara Creecy (54 votes), Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana (54 votes) and MP Tina Joemat-Petterson (53 votes).
Zizi Kodawa, the deputy minister in the presidency also received 53 votes, as did David Mahlobo, the deputy water and sanitation minister, Pemmy Majodina, the chief whip od the party and Justice Minister Ronald Lamola.
Three of Ramaphosa’s allies in KwaZulu-Natal- Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu, MPL Mdumiseni Ntuli and Peggy Nkonyeni also made it to the list.
None of the presidential hopefuls ahead of the ANC conference- Zweli Mkhize, Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma- made it to the NWC.
The highly anticipated Cabinet reshuffle is likely to be discussed at the meetings.
Source: Sunday Times, Mail&Guardian, News24, image from Twitter: @MathlatsiKekana