The camp prepares a battle for when the currently suspended conferences are finally convened.
Gert Sibande ANC leader Muzi Chirwa’s camp this week released the full list of its top 5 regional slate, pushing forward Chief Albert Luthuli’s Walter Mngomezulu to come contest as regional chairman.
The camp wants to throw under the bus Chirwa’s ally-turned-opponent – Mkhondo mayor Vusi ‘Sgemegeme’ Motha – who is the region’s deputy chairman, and who also eyes the position of Gert Sibande ANC chair.
The slate lists Mngomezulu as chair, REC member Muzi Manyathi as deputy chair, deputy secretary Lindi Masina as secretary, former ANCYL leader Trevor Nkosi as deputy secretary and REC member Aubrey Maboea as the regional treasurer.
The Chirwa camp supports Jackie Macie in eHlanzeni to contest Gillion Mashego for the position of regional chair, acting provincial chairman Mandla Ndlovu as the provincial chair and Chirwa as provincial secretary and is opposed to Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane ascending to the top ANC job.
Chirwa is seen as having an upper hand in the political squabbles of the region, which allows him to choose a successor…
Motha’s camp hasn’t yet released its full slate, but currently supports former ANCYL regional chairman Khulani Nhlabathi for the position of regional secretary.
Motha’s camp is backed by Tsipane and Ermelo strongman Sibusiso ‘The Great’ Sgudla who is Chirwa’s political opponent.
The Great Sgudla is deputy president DD Mabuza’s most important lieutenant in Gert Sibande.
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Lobbyists said Mngomezulu is fit for the job and as Chirwa’s successor – and capable of ushering the party towards “renewal and restoration”.
Early this year Chirwa thanked acting provincial secretary Lindiwe Ntshalintshali who they want to retain her post of deputy provincial secretary for giving birth to the #Focus camp of Ndlovu that is opposed to Mabuza’s micromanaging of the Mpumalanga ANC from the Union Buildings in Tshwane, saying as hard as it was but Ntshalintshali stood firm against “intimidation” and assisted them as Gert Sibande to do so.
Chirwa, an opponent of The Great Sgudla – Mabuza’s most trusted lieutenant in Gert Sibande region – said in his own region they were faced with such similar issues of “intimidation and dictatorship”, where they were given a candidate but refused.
“We took a stand as Gert Sibande and we said we will stand firm for what we believe is right and therefore free ourselves from the politics of intimidating and dictatorship,” said Chirwa.
(edited by ZK)
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