Durban — As ANC branches in KwaZulu-Natal were wrapping up their Top 6 nominations for the party’s 55th national elective conference on Tuesday, former provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli has emerged as the favourite for the secretary-general position.
Ntuli has also got the nod from some branches in the Free State which are said to be pairing him with president Cyril Ramaphosa to retain his second term.
Ntuli’s lobbyist, who refused to be named before regions formally pronounced their preferred candidates, told the Daily News on Tuesday that Ntuli’s name was among many branches in the eThekwini region, Mooi River sub-region, which is part of Moses Mabhida (Pietermaritzburg), as well as outside the province.
Ntuli’s nomination in Mooi River was confirmed by former Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu, who comes from the area. Mshengu said although some branches were still to meet and nominate on Tuesday evening, the information he had received was that Ntuli’s name was at the top for the secretary-general position.
Ntuli, who lost the provincial secretary contest to Bheki Mtolo, was likely to be endorsed by the entire Moses Mabhida region because the region had wanted him to return as secretary in the provincial conference in July.
Ntuli was also expected to be endorsed by his home region of eThekwini, which were expected at Moses Mabhida stadium on Tuesday evening to pronounce their preferred list.
The acting regional chairperson, Thembo Ntuli, said he would only know who the region wanted for Top 6 positions after their meeting last night.
In the Free State, Maluti-Phofung sub-region, which forms part of Harrismith and Qwaqwa ward 22, has formally endorsed Ntuli for secretary-general and Ramaphosa for president.
This was confirmed by a member of the branch executive committee, Nathi “Bashin” Maduna, who said not only his branch but “many” wanted both Ntuli and the current president at Luthuli House after the conference in December.
Ntuli confirmed to the paper that he would accept the nomination.
Another senior ANC member in the province said it was a strategic move by the province not only to focus on the presidential position, which looks like Ramaphosa has already got it in the back but to look for another influential position like secretary-general.
The member, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said branches were mindful of the 2017 conference disaster where for the first time in many years the province was not represented in the party top hierarchy known as Top 6.
“For me, I would not have a problem with a line-up that includes Ramaphosa and Ntuli. We are aware that Senzo Mchunu’s name also comes up for deputy president position, therefore it was strategic for the province to field more names in various positions to avoid the 2017 humiliation where it came back empty-handed,” said the member.
If nominated, Ntuli was likely to face Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, who was said to be nominated by some branches as well in other provinces.
For the presidential position, regions in the province are said to be hotly debating whether to back Dr Zweli Mkhize or Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The provincial leadership in the memo to the regions issued on the weekend instructed them to sit on Monday and on Tuesday and nominate their preferred candidates.
The leadership was on the record saying it would not dictate to the branches who to nominate but will support the candidates chosen by the majority of branches.
Daily News