Mabuyane warns ANC against jostle for power, govt resources
ANC deputy president hopefuls Oscar Mabuyane and Ronald Lamola both reportedly refused to heed calls from within the Cyril Ramaphosa camp to back down from their bid for the position and remain in the running after nominations concluded in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Outgoing deputy president David Mabuza also declined a nomination from the floor to remain in the position, leaving favourite Paul Mashatile, Lamola, and Mabuyane, as the names on the ballot.
READ: ANC concludes 'top seven' nomination list, voting on Sunday
Speaking ahead of nominations at the party’s national conference on Saturday, Mabuyane distanced himself from the label of being Ramaphosa’s “biggest fan” and lieutenant.
“I am a biggest fan of the ANC and I stand for what is correct in the ANC. It happens that Ramaphosa is the president of the ANC and is leading the ANC as we speak and is really helping us to bring the ANC to where it’s supposed to be, so that all of us consciously – and with a high level of conscience – appreciate that the ANC has not joined us, we have joined the ANC.”
ALSO READ: ANC must prioritise renewal, avoid focus on individuals – Mabuyane
The Eastern Cape ANC chairperson echoed remarks by Ramaphosa during his delivery of the political report, when he said divisions in the party where not driven by ideological difference but rather competition for access to government positions and resources.
“There are people who have joined the ANC because they think that to be a member of the ANC is a career because you are likely to be deployed. There is no career in the ANC, we are servants, and we must simply serve the nation.”