African National Congress heavyweight, Gwede Mantashe has taken a step back from his presidential ambition after he had revealed earlier this year that he was going to contest for the deputy president position at national conference.
ANC’s elective conference is scheduled for December this year, and several comrades are said to be mobilising support in their branches and provinces.
Gwede Mantashe, the ANC national chairperson has chickened out of the race for the top position. The reason for him backing down on his ambition is that the ANC needs a younger deputy president, effectively ruling himself out of running for the position.
Surprising enough, Mantashe did not rule out a re-election bid as party chairperson. He seem to be feeling too warm holding the position of national chairperson which is why he would rather contest again for that position than compete for deputy president.
“What is the point of appointing a deputy president that will retire along with the president? That just means you have no vision, there is a need for continuance in the party.
I cannot rule out chairperson position, I can do that, it’s quite comfortable. You just delegate. Tell this one to speak and that one to speak,” he said.
Source: https://twitter.com/News24/status/1492378066659782659?t=Tg-bQggmD6mTqharliahVQ&s=19
Critics however feel this move by Gwede Mantashe was not something he wanted to do, but is forced by circumstances. Earlier this year, when he made his ambition known to contest for deputy president, his corruption allegations started making headlines.
Mantashe also later revealed that there were outside forces who were trying to separate him and president Cyril Ramaphosa. So his withdrawal from contesting the deputy president position might be his indirect way of securing his position at Cyril Ramaphosa’s table.
“The tiger has realized that if he defines himself outside the new dawn faction, he will be charged and forced to step aside. Wise move tiger,” some argued.
Content created and supplied by: DissentingVoices (via Opera
News )
, . , . () , , , , , , , , . / , and/or . , , and/or , and/or