While speculation linking him to the highly contested battle for the ANC secretary-general position continues to swirl, former Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle has opted to keep his cards close to his chest.
The party is likely to have a new secretary-general in December as the suspended incumbent, Ace Magashule, has been prohibited from contesting any position because of the step-aside rule.
Masualle told DispatchLIVE at the weekend he would “apply his mind” if he were to be nominated.
DispatchLIVE in August reported that he had the backing of the faction that supported former provincial treasurer Babalo Madikizela during the provincial elective conference.
As behind-the-scenes lobbying continues ahead of the national conference, more ANC heavyweights have also been linked to the secretary-general position.
Reports at the weekend listed Masualle among them.
Others include outgoing Gauteng premier David Makhura, former KZN provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli, transport minister Fikile Mbalula, ANC general manager Febe Potgieter, former Gauteng health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa, ex-cabinet minister Nomvula Mokonyane and head of the presidency Sibongile Besani.
When asked by DispatchLIVE at the weekend to unpack his plans, Masualle would neither confirm nor deny whether he would be available to contest.
“Regrettably, I’m unable to comment on your questions,” he said.
“I haven’t heard or been approached by anyone on the subject.
“Only after such materialises can I apply my mind to it.”
Premier and ANC chair Oscar Mabuyane has already confirmed his readiness to contest.
Though he has not publicly announced which spot he is gunning for, it is widely believed he has firmly set his sights on the deputy president position.
In his remarks at the special provincial executive committee (PEC) meeting on Sunday, Mabuyane said the party was “officially in the national conference season” and vowed the PEC would play a pivotal role in the nomination process to ensure continuity of the party’s renewal project.
“We must lead this process as this PEC and not be followers,” he said.
“It is our responsibility to guide our branches in the nomination process.
“As this province, we are the proponents of the renewal project.
“From the eighth PEC to the ninth PEC, we have successfully championed and defended the need for the ANC to renew itself.
“We have been uncompromising on renewal as it is the only way to save the ANC.
“It is paramount therefore, that we continue with this agenda and ensure proper leadership fit for purpose must emerge or will be elected in December to continue the task of renewing the ANC.”
The province will begin talks with other provinces about its policy conference proposals and preferred candidates when the nomination process gets under way.
“As soon as the nomination process is opened, we must be proactive in engaging PECs of other provinces,” Mabuyane said.
“Firstly, for the endorsement of the policy proposals we made at the policy conference and, secondly, for the leadership preferences we have.
“This is a process we must handle with great humility and open-mindedness as none of the provinces owes us anything to agree with our leadership preferences.
“We must also push strongly for a generational mix, gender parity and address the national question in our leadership.
“Now is the time for the ANC national officials to have a generational mix that would appeal to a cross-section of South African society.
“The province has already announced its support for Ramaphosa’s second term bid.”
In a show of support for the president, Mabuyane once again defended Ramaphosa amid sharp criticism over the Phala Phala farm theft saga.
He slammed the opposition parties’ march to the office of the public protector last week, where they demanded the Phala Phala report be released.
“They went as far as to tell the PP that she must release it even if it’s not complete because they want to use it to hold the president accountable.
“From their utterances you can see they have already formulated the report in their minds that the president is guilty,” Mabuyane said.
“The danger of what they are doing is that the PP is a Chapter nine institution that should be allowed to perform its functions without any political pressure.
“The opposition parties are now violating that principle.
“South Africans must be ready to defend the office of the public protector and all structures of our constitutional democracy from such attacks.
“Our interest is that the office of the public protector must conduct its investigation into the matter without fear or favour and make public its report when it has completed it.”
DispatchLIVE
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