‘Ubuyile’ – Mantashe’s return a win for Ramaphosa
Gwede Mantashe will continue as ANC chairperson, much to the disappointment of his detractors who shouted “akabuyi” [he’s not coming back] throughout the four days leading up to the announcement of the party’s top officials on Monday.
Mantashe was up against Limpopo’s Stan Mathabatha, beating him by 44 votes.
After pronouncing the province’s support for Ramaphosa as early as the January 8 gathering in Polokwane this year, Mathabatha made a U-turn at the eleventh hour.
Limpopo PEC member, and a strong ally of Mathabatha’s, Florence Radzilani said they made the decision when it became clear Ramaphosa’s Renew22 slate did not favour their candidate, while Zweli Mkhize’s did.
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Political analyst Andre Duvenhage says the mineral resources minister played an integral role in shielding Ramaphosa, both in government and in the party, following the damning findings of the section 89 report into the Phala Phala saga.
“…as a result of that, he favoured Gwede Mantashe over Stan Mathabatha and that means that Stan deflected to the RET group. I think the point that is important is that personal interests are more important than structures and loyalty to those structures. This is applicable throughout the ANC.”
Duvenhage however says Ramaphosa should not let his guard down after key provinces such the North West, Gauteng, and Limpopo showed obvious splits over supporting him.
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He says this would not bode well for the party ahead of the 2024 general elections, as it’s expected the divisions displayed at the conference will trickle down to provincial and local structures.
“The ANC is an organisation in trouble…. It’s not going to be easy, but in the 2024 election, they won’t govern on their own. At this point, it seems the EFF and smaller parties are benefitting the most from the loss in support for the ANC, so it is a complete re-configuration of the political spectrum.”
