Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. Picture File
Pretoria - Scores of senior ANC leaders close to President Cyril Ramaphosa - including Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, Derek Hanekom, Joel Netshitenzhe and Tito Mboweni - have been booted out of the party’s national executive committee.
In an unprecedented political bloodbath, delegates to the party’s 55th national conference purged the old guard such as Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, Women Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Tony Yengeni and former policy chief Jeff Radebe. Even Ex-Deputy President David “DD” Mabuza was shown the door.
They replaced them with a relatively youthful NEC dominated by former ANC Youth League (ANCYL) leaders including Andile Lungisa, Soviet Lekganyane, Nonceba Mhlauli, Mzwandile Masina, Khusela Diko, Njabulo Nzuza and Thandi Moraka.
It’s unclear whether these changes will result in a change of policy direction and fast-track the implementation of policies.
The most glaring exclusion from the highest decision-making body was Gordhan, given the fact of his proximity to Ramaphosa, Mabuza and Mapisa-Nqakula.
Delegates voted late into yesterday morning, with the electoral committee chairperson Kgalema Motlanthe announcing the list at a press briefing after.
Other notable exclusions from the NEC are Ayanda Dlodlo, Nathi Mthethwa, Baleka Mbete, Mathole Motshekga and Dikeledi Magadzi.
New ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said he was discouraged by the exclusion of Netshitenzhe, the government’s former chief communicator and ANC stalwart.
He said: “This is a big problem for me that a strategist like him (Netshitenzhe) does not make it into the NEC.”
Others that were excluded are Thulas Nxesi, Collen Maine, Beauty Dlulane, Sdumo Dlamini, Alvin Botes, Zingiswa Losi, Sfiso Buthelezi, Bongani Bongo, Ruth Bhengu, Mosebenzi Zwane, Ngoako Ramathlodi, Siyabonga Cwele, Mildrend Oliphant, Susan Shabangu, Thokozile Xasa, Nomaindia Mfeketo, Candith Mashigo, Rejoice Mabhudafatsi and Sylvia Lucas.
This makes most of them vulnerable to a cabinet reshuffle triggered by the departure of Mbalula from the transport ministry to the party’s secretary-general’s office.
An ANC NEC position gives incumbents an advantage for Cabinet appointments.
Mbalula said he was impressed by the list because it included mostly the youth, saying the party was now showing that the future of the ANC was with the young people.
He singled out names like Pule Mabe, Zizi Kodwa and Ronald Lamola, who he worked with during his ANC Youth League days.
The total eligible voters were 4436, while only 4029 cast their votes, with 133 spoiled.
The top 10 of the list included Sihle Zikalala, who made it to number one, Mduduzi Manana, Lamola, Mdumiseni Ntuli, Bheki Cele, Senzo Mchunu, Malusi Gigaba, Mabe, Kodwa and David Makhura.
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma came in at number 33, which is way down from the first position she occupied after the 2012 conference in Mangaung.
Dr Zweli Mkhize, who lost the ANC presidency to Ramaphosa during the conference, also made it to number 16.
Pretoria News