This comes as an ANC faction in KZN intensifies its campaign to have the ANC provincial treasurer, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who is also the treasury MEC, the provincial deputy secretary, Sipho Hlomuka, who is currently the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), and the provincial deputy chairperson, Mike Mabuyakhulu, removed from their ANC positions.
The group is pressing ANC regions and branches for support in their effort to have the three removed from the ANC’s top provincial leadership structure, according to party insiders. “The objective is to unify the province’s branches and regions behind the top five,” a senior ANC leader in the province said. “As a consequence, they want to get individuals into the top five who will have the most influence over the province’s branches and regions.”
According to sources, if the strategy is successful, Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane and Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu may be elevated to the top five. While Simelane and Mshengu could not be contacted for comment on whether they were aware of the plot, Hlomuka said that the campaign was not nefarious. “Every member of the ANC has the freedom to advocate for whoever they like,” he said.
According to the ANC’s organogram, the province’s chairwoman, Sihle Zikalala, who is also the premier, and the party’s provincial secretary, Mdumiseni Ntuli, are the most prominent persons in the provincial top five.
Return of Zikalala and Ntuli
According to the proposal put up by those advocating for the expulsion of Dube-Ncube, Hlomuka, and Mabuyakhulu, Zikalala and Ntuli would be permitted to resume their respective roles at the conference. Mabuyakhulu, the province’s former economic development MEC, is presently on special leave after an investigation into a multi-million rand agreement between the government and service providers during his stint as MEC.
“Despite the fact that he is now under investigation for corruption, the ANC’s step-aside resolution permits him to run for any leadership post. “So, to be safe, those seeking his ouster are not taking any risks; they already have someone in mind to challenge him if he decides to seek re-election,” another ANC provincial leader said.
While Hlomuka and Dube-Ncube, who is also the KZN Legislature’s leader of government business, would retain their respective MEC posts regardless of the result of the provincial conference, one ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) member indicated that the two will ultimately be swapped. “Pressure will be used on comrade Sihle [Zikalala] to restructure the provincial cabinet in order to accommodate those who played a significant role in the dismissal of the three,” the PEC member said.
Dube-Ncube is regarded as an ANC veteran with strong ties to her hometown of eThekwini. “Most significantly, some branches think that as provincial chair and premier, she would guarantee that the ANC wins provincial government elections and contributes millions of votes at the national level to assure the ANC’s continued rule. They feel she is the only person with the credibility and expertise necessary to steer KZN’s socioeconomic growth in a new direction.”
A supporter of Dube-Ncube
While Dube-Ncube refused to comment, an ANC politician close to her characterized her removal as a “stillborn” plot. “The fact that they are now racing to the media to market their bizarre ideas demonstrates their struggle to get support from ANC branches and regions,” a friend of Dube-Ncube said. The ANC leader said that Dube-Ncube was not at the mercy of those working against her, since she had previously been solicited by branches to run for the ANC provincial chairperson post.
“Most significantly, some branches think that as provincial chair and premier, she would guarantee that the ANC wins provincial government elections and contributes millions of votes at the national level to assure the ANC’s continued rule. “They feel she is the only person with the credibility and expertise necessary to steer KZN’s socioeconomic growth in a new direction,” a fan of Dube-Ncube said.
If Dube-Ncube accepts nomination for the ANC provincial chairman job, she is likely to challenge her present boss, Zikalala, who will seek re-election to the conference’s top role.
League des Femmes
The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL), which is well-known for advocating for women’s involvement in the ANC’s top provincial leadership structure, said that it has not yet decided which of its members should be assigned to the provincial top five structure.
“As the ANCWL, we do not leap to the conclusion that this or that comrade should be deployed. We do a thorough review of the ANC’s strengths and shortcomings and then select ANCWL members who possess the necessary abilities and traits to serve in the ANC’s top leadership structure,” Nonhlanhla Gabela, ANCWL provincial secretary, said.
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ANC faction in KwaZulu-Natal wants three influential leaders out | Witness (news24.com)
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