Eastern Cape co-operative governance & traditional affairs MEC Xolile Nqatha failed in his bid to occupy the second most powerful office in the SACP.
Nqatha contested for the position of first deputy general secretary of the party, previously occupied by Solly Mapaila.
Mapaila was elected unopposed as the new general secretary to take over from Blade Nzimande, who served in the position for 24 years.
Nqatha had been instrumental in the lobby to have Nzimande removed from his position.
Nzimande was elected chair, beating his former director-general, Gwebs Qonde.
On Monday, Nqatha declined to talk about his failed bid, instead committing himself to support the new leadership.
He lost to Madala Masuku, who takes over from Mapaila.
Nqatha said: “The outcomes of congress are welcomed by all delegates of the Eastern Cape and we have committed to rally behind the leadership.
“It’s only in the interest of the party that we all should come out of congress and rally behind the elected leadership under the new general secretary.
“I can commit on behalf of the Eastern Cape that we will do exactly that.
“I wish once again to congratulate them individually and collectively for their election.”
However, he declined to speculate about the reason he did not get the nod from delegates.
“I wouldn’t want to go back, that would be wrong. I want to go forward now.
“The fact is we have got a leadership now — let’s focus on that.
“We must not focus on who supported whom, who did not support whom — it’s not in the interest of the party to look back.
“The reality is that we have a leadership, we must rally behind that leadership, we have passed that stage.”
Other high-profile Eastern Cape leaders who were elected include employment and labour minister Thulas Nxesi, who became deputy chair.
Mineral resources & energy minister Gwede Mantashe was also elected as part of the central executive committee (CEC).
He previously held the position of chair between 2007 and 2012.
Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi was another high-profile Eastern Cape political leader to be elected to the CEC.
Deputy legislature chief whip Kholiswa Fihlani, together with MPL Mluleki Dlelanga and former sports MEC Bulelwa Tunyiswa, were also elected to the CEC.
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