Several senior Eastern Cape ANC MPLs will not return to the legislature after being left off the party’s provincial candidate list for the 2024 general election.
The IEC released the final candidate lists for parliament and the nine provincial legislatures on Wednesday.
Seasoned politicians who did not make the cut include former health MEC Sindiswa Gomba, standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) provincial chair Mxolisi Dimaza, transport portfolio committee chair Xolani Malamlela and Dr Mike Basopu, who was sworn in only in March.
Basopu replaced Fezeka Nkomonye, who was recently appointed executive manager for corporate services at the provincial legislature.
MPL Vumile Lwana is also among those set to lose their seats.
Lwana previously served as the mayor of the Makana local municipality.
ANC Women’s League provincial chair and OR Tambo district municipality speaker Ntandokazi Capa is number one on the list, while Amathole district municipality mayor Anele Ntsangani rounds off the list of 72 candidates.
The party secured 44 seats out of 63 in the provincial legislature in the 2019 election.
Leaders occupying the higher positions on the provincial list stand a good chance of representing the party after the elections.
Malamlela confirmed that he would not return to the legislature.
“I think I didn’t get enough votes to be on the list and that means I’m not going back.
“I’m very happy with the contribution I have made since 2019.”
Malamlela said the next administration should hit the ground running.
“I think the main focus should be on the improvement of infrastructure especially rural roads, improvement of departmental and municipal audit outcomes and the resolving of scholar transport challenges.”
Malamlela had not yet decided on his future plans.
“I will find something to do or my organisation may find a way of using me.”
Dimaza confirmed he had asked to be excluded from the list because he had been an MPL since 2009.
He would, however, be available if the party needed him. He was happy with his contribution since joining the legislature.
“I’ve implemented the ANC policies and manifesto. I’m not on any of the lists, including national.
“For now, I will rest, but I’m open to deployment, even to national.”
Basopu declined to discuss his future in the legislature.
[ANC provincial secretary] Mr [Lulama] Ngcukayitobi is in a better position to respond to your question about my future,” he said.
Basopu had some advice for the incoming administration.
“Obviously, the seventh administration should implement the manifesto of the ruling ANC for the next five years, and take stock of the past 30 years of democracy in terms of its achievements and challenges.”
Gomba referred a request for comment to the ANC, while Lwana could not be reached by the time of publication.
Young leaders are waiting in the wings, with ANC Youth League provincial chair Vuyo Jali at number 15 on the list and his deputy, Yanga Bonga, at 36.
Jali and Bonga had not responded to questions by the time of publication.
ANC provincial spokesperson Loyiso Magqashela said the party’s list represented a blend of experience, skills, gender representation and youth.
The ANC had looked at the broad guidelines to ensure that the ANC’s nonracial character, gender parity and generational mix found practical expression in the list.
Magqashela also shed light on factors taken into consideration by branches during the nomination and selection processes.
“You will understand that various consultative processes were undertaken to meet the objectives that our structures had identified in strengthening all the lists.
“The criteria encompassed ANC principles such as nonracialism, non-sexism, generational mix, integrity, political acumen and expertise. That’s how we sum up our provincial list.
“Leaders who made the cut underwent rigorous interviews by the provincial list committee.”
No candidates were removed due to the step-aside rule.
Policy analyst Dr Nkosikhulule Xhawulengweni Nyembezi said credibility was an indispensable political quality that barely needed a mention when it was there.
“Yet when it is missing, nothing else matters as much.
“For many voters, most candidates on the published lists are established credible leaders ... [who] often dominated in selection processes.
“That gives most candidates great scope to activate voter support to secure a high voter turnout in these elections, as they did during the local election manifesto launches, where the party highlighted plans to promote local economic development.
“This is evidence of its desire to lead and implement coherent policies.”
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