Former president Jacob Zuma‘s confidantes have successfully pushed back against his
suggestion for Floyd Shivambu to be appointed uMkhonto Wesizwe (MKP)’s new secretary-general.
Instead they persuaded him to consider Ndumiso Matlala for the party’s powerful job.
Matlala is expected to replace Dr Sifiso Maseko, who party insiders described as lacking clarity on what the role required.
Maseko, who previously worked in the Gauteng health department, stepped down from the post on Wednesday after weeks of speculation that his job was on the line.
According to information received, Zuma threw in the hat the name of Shivambu, saying that he was the right person to replace Maseko.
Shivambu is doing well as organiser
But Zuma was persuaded that Shivambu, whose star seems to be rising within the MK Party, was doing well in his current post as the national organiser, and that giving him a new role might destabilise the good work that he was already doing.
Sunday World understands that Zuma subsequently gave the nod to Matlala, who at the time of writing, was yet to be publicly announced as Maseko’s successor.
“We are satisfied that Floyd Shivambu is doing a good job as national organiser, so it would not be wise to open a hole there. We had no choice but to leave him in that position and consider someone else. You cannot remove a capable person from a particular position when he is beginning to stabilise and do well,” said a party insider privy to the developments.
In Shivambu’s absence, the party had to choose between Matlala and former Transnet and PSL boss Joe Ndlela.
Interviews of the pair delayed the announcement
However, Zuma opted for Matlala. Zuma was initially expected to officially announce Matlala’s new role at a media briefing in October.
In the nine months since the party’s formation in December last year, Matlala would
become its fifth secretary-general.
“Matlala is an experienced activist who grew up in the ranks of the liberation movement- from Cosas to the uMkhonto we Sizwe military wing in exile,” said a source in the party.
The person said, “He is well-studied; he listens; he is humble; he is articulate; and he is also smart.”
Chequered past
Another person said Ndlela’s chequered history at the PSL and his previous conviction worked against him. The source said Ndlela was the favourite candidate of a lobby group in parliament that forwarded his name to party parliamentary leader, Dr John Hlophe.
Sunday World understands that a selected team of the MK Party faithful quietly interviewed Ndlela and Matlala between the end of September and the beginning of last month, with the latter emerging victorious.
It was not clear then if Maseko was aware of the process of finding his replacement. It is alleged only a few members close to Zuma were aware.
Before the interviews, Zuma was also advised on the status of the organisation, the lack of clarity in the tasks assigned to officials, the requirements for the role of secretary-general, the type of person needed to fill the position, the criteria for identifying a suitable candidate for the office, and vetting standards.
