The ANC in the Western Cape province wants ex-Mpumalanga premier and businessman Mathews Phosa to succeed President Jacob Zuma when the party meets for its 54th elective congress in December this year.
This was revealed by provincial executive member Andile Lili in an interview with a Mpumalanga newspaper.
Lili told the bi-weekly newspaper that over the weekend a meeting between 23 branches of the ANC in the Western Cape province took a decision to support Phosa for the party’s number one job and Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande to be in the top six.
The province also wants Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe to deputise Phosa and ex-KZN premier Senzo Mchunu, Gauteng premier Paul Mashatile and chairwoman of the national council of provinces Thandi Modise in the top six
Lili said they once thought of supporting Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa but branches turned against him during the meeting, citing that he didn’t have a good reputation as a leader.
“In the ANC, we elect leaders on the basis of their reputation,” Lili said.
“We want a leadership that is credible in society to save the party that has fallen into crisis,” he said, adding Phosa is “untainted” and that they were now “tired of defending our leaders, instead of focusing on the ANC’s programmes”.
He said they didn’t consult Phosa and will now begin “to go around the country and persuade other leaders to support Phosa for president!”
“We want an ANC that is united,” he added.
(edited by ZK)
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