The much-anticipated ANC KwaZulu-Natal elective conference is expected to be a close contest, with last-minute lobbying and horse-trading in full swing across provincial party structures.
Early indications point to the so-called radical economic transformation faction aligned to former president Jacob Zuma and suspended party secretary Ace Magashule claiming a landslide victory.
Sunday World has, however, established that the faction is torn between KwaZulu-Natal finance MEC Nomusa Dube and businessman Sandile Zungu as its pick for provincial party chairperson.
“The problem is that both comrades don’t want to settle for anything other than the chairmanship. There has already been attempts to convince them to campaign under one banner, but nobody is willing to take a lesser position,” said the insider.
The eThekwini region, which is the ANC’s largest voting bloc in terms of numbers, is known to have thrown its weight behind Zungu. But the region is also known to be partial to Dube.
Zungu lobbyists confirmed to Sunday World that the only position that their candidate will be contesting is that of chairperson.
“We are convinced that Zungu will best serve the ANC and the people of KwaZulu-Natal as the chairperson of the ANC in KZN,” said spokesperson for Zungu’s campaign Vusi Mvelase.
Other branches want current chairperson and premier of the province Sihle Zikalala and provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli to retain their portfolios.
The conference will take place on July 22 after it was postponed from July 15 to allow other branches to convene their branch general meetings.
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