ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has dispatched probably one of the biggest national executive committee (NEC) delegations to the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) national elective conference starting on Friday in Durban.
This is where four members of the ANC top seven, led by party boss Cyril Ramaphosa and 21 NEC additional members, have been deployed.
Joining Ramaphosa to Sanco’s elective conference are the governing party’s national chair Gwede Mantashe, deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane and treasurer-general Gwen Ramokgopa.
The ruling party’s delegation will be officially welcomed by Sanco KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Jacob Zuma, who is said to be eyeing the top position of becoming Sanco president.
Zuma was re-elected as Sanco provincial chairperson in absentia at the weekend. He skipped the conference to attend the funeral of a family member.
Sunday World has seen the deployment list by Mbalula, who in the memo said the Sanco national conference is “vitally important in laying the foundation for building a strong, united and vibrant progressive civic movement that can contribute to strengthening and renewing the alliance”.
Massive ANC NEC delegation
According to sources within Sanco, the unusually massive ANC NEC delegation to the gathering is meant to stop Zuma from emerging at all cost.
Our moles said the stakes are so high such that Luthuli House, ANC headquarters in Johannesburg, is leaving nothing to chance, hence the 25-member strong deployment.
“The intention is to stop Zuma from emerging, they fear the man and it looks like he is destined to return to the national political space through Sanco,” said a Sanco leader close to the former president of the country.
Another Sanco lobbyist added: “The biggest Sanco provinces – Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal are behind comrade Zuma.
“It remains to be seen how this unstoppable train will be stopped.”
Ramaphosa is expected to address the congress on Friday afternoon while the election of new Sanco national leaders is scheduled to take place in the evening.
