‘I have no regrets’ – Ronald Lamola on ANC deputy president loss

ANC electoral committee chairperson Kgalema Motlanthe made the announcement on day four of the 55th ANC national conference, where the party’s ‘Top 7’ national executive committee (NEC) members were unveiled.   

Former Gauteng premier and treasurer-general under the 2017 NEC leadership Paul Mashatile is the ANC’s new deputy president after he managed to garner 2178 votes against Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane’s 1858, and Lamola’s dismal 315.  

Similar to the last-ditch move by treasurer-general hopeful Mzwandile Masina, who gave up his candidacy to back Pule Mabe in an attempt to consolidate their numbers under the Zweli Mkhize camp, Lamola was reportedly asked to back down from his campaign in favour of Mabuyane, who was Ramaphosa’s favoured candidate for the job.  

 Lamola is said to have refused the proposition, splitting the vote for the Ramaphosa camp. 

 He defended his decision to contest. 

“I have no regrets. I think that my standing principle was important to inspire a younger generation across the country that the ANC belongs to young people, it belongs to everyone, and I believe that I have paved the way for those coming behind me that they can lead the ANC,” he said.

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The former ANC youth league leader is also one of the youngest cabinet ministers on Ramaphosa’s cabinet at the age of 39. 

A delegate from the Govan Mbeki region in Mpumalanga, Zihle Zikalala, says as young people in the ANC they are disappointed at the lack of youth representation in the top 7. 

“We wished that we would have someone who comes from the youth league who will sit on the NEC, and it’s something that we are advocating for. Having Ronald Lamola sitting on the NEC is something that would have us saying there is indeed a future for young people because we have someone who is going to represent us there.” 

Meanwhile, Lamola has urged delegates to accept the election outcome and focus on rebuilding the party.  

“I am glad that comrade Maropene [Ramokgopa], whom I served with her in the youth league, has emerged. I believe that there is a good balance, a good generational mix.” 

Lamola’s backers are now vying for him to make a comeback on the list of additional 80 NEC members.