Simba Rushwaya
JOHANNESBURG – THE ruling African National Congress (ANC) heeded a call by its Youth League to call for an early elective congress after it was mercilessly battered in the just ended 2016 Municipal elections in where they lost key metros such as Johannesburg and Tshwane to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng.
Adding insult to injury, the party was also trounced by the Inkatha Freedom Party, in its President’s (Zuma) own hometown in Nkandla, a small but significant statement to Africa’s oldest liberation war movement.
Hot on the heels of this, something which has clearly put the party into defensive mode in the post election period was being fingered in an R80 million bribery allegation involving PRASA, where it is being said the Party received a R80 million bribe to award Swifambo Rail Leasing a contract to supply locomotives to PRASA.
As if that is not enough, there have been concerns in the corridors of power over the summoning of Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan by the Hawks, a development ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe says has hurt the economy.
In the face of this, the ANC appears to have relented to the call by the Youth League to have early elective conference.
“The ANC has noted the call by the ANC Youth League for an early elective Conference to be convened. Structures of the organisation are urged to deal with calls for a Conference as provided for in the Constitution of the African National Congress,” says Mantashe all but confirming a possible change of leadership in the party.
The watershed conference was initially scheduled for December 2017, but this development means the date will be brought back to effect leadership change, where Zuma is expected to relinquish power after serving two terms with his vice-president Cyril Ramaphosa and outgoing African Union chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma touted to replace him at the top.
Dlamini-Zuma has not hidden her desire to take over the reins to become South Africa’s first female president by tacitly not disputing calls by the party KZN Youth League to take over.
Political scientist and University of South Africa (UNISA) lecturer Everisto Benyera believes that this early elective conference is a smart move.
“I think trying to restructure their organization after being bruised in the election is just what the doctor ordered. It is imperative for them to hold the elective conference early so that they chart the way forward ahead of 2019 general elections.
“It is also refreshing that they party is responding to the needs of the people as they promised after the Municipal elections. That’s the way to go,” says Benyera.
-Guardian