After being dropped by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s renew22 campaign, ANC Limpopo chairperson Stan Mathabatha has thrown his support behind Zweli Mkhize in the race for the presidency.
Mathabatha addressed a caucus meeting held by the Mkhize camp where the headcount of delegates took place on Sunday afternoon. Mathabatha emphasized that the faction was in a fight for the soul of the ANC and ought to forge ahead. This move by Mathabatha came as a surprise, as he went against a directive by his provincial executive committee to support Ramaphosa.
The endorsement of Mkhize by Mathabatha and the ANC Gauteng delegation has been described as the “politics of reciprocity.” Mkhize’s camp has embraced Mathabatha as its candidate for the ANC national chairperson position, while President Cyril Ramaphosa’s allies have insisted they will put their weight behind Gwede Mantashe.
ANC Gauteng heavyweight Lebogang Maile stated that a large number of Gauteng delegates abandoned the push for Ramaphosa’s second term because his allies did not support their preferred candidate for his second in command, Paul Mashatile.
The growing support for Mkhize from Limpopo and Gauteng has been seen as detrimental to Ramaphosa. Mkhize lobbyists believe that the support for the former health minister from these two provinces will help him secure the presidency. At the same time, ANC leaders who did not make the ballot for the ANC presidency, Lindiwe Sisulu and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, have thrown their support behind Mkhize.
As voting began on Sunday, delegates from across the country were whipped into line as leaders from various provinces addressed them outside the Nasrec conference venue. Mathabatha’s public endorsement of Mkhize has sparked controversy, as the ANC in Limpopo issued a statement on Sunday distancing itself from leaders making statements in support of Mkhize despite the province’s general council having pronounced its support for Ramaphosa.