Mpumalanga backing 'unity' ahead of ANC conference
"Unity" has emerged as the unlikely winner at the African National Congress' (ANC) Mpumalanga provincial general council at the Mbombela Stadium on Friday.
Mpumalanga is the ANC's second biggest province in terms of membership.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma received the most votes of the presidential hopefuls (123), edging out Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa (117).
However, there were 223 abstentions for the position of presidency with branches preferring to write "unity" as their choice to lead the ANC.
The electoral commission recorded these votes as abstentions, refusing a plea by provincial chairperson David Mabuza that it be changed to "unity."
Mabuza was nominated for the position of deputy president.
Speaking to the media following the announcement, Mabuza defended the right of branches in the province to choose "unity" rather than a specific candidate.
"Leadership is just there to guide there and there, but it is not God in this movement. So, as members of the ANC we are going to jealously guard this movement. Our movement. It's not about DD Mabuza who is the chairperson in Mpumalanga . It's about the ANC in Mpumalanga. That is why I have corrected them (the electoral commission) and said 'don't push away the voice of the province'. Don't push away and pretend you don't see it. You are making a fundamental mistake, because this is the ANC speaking. Listen to it."
Mabuza said he is more than willing to sacrifice the position of deputy president for the sake of unity in the ANC.
"I was never born to be a chairperson. I was never born to be a premier. I am here solely because of the will of the people. And tomorrow there will be someone (else), there was someone before me and there was someone before that someone.
"So, leaders will come and go but the aspirations of the people remain."