Oscar Mabuyane

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 ...

There is no career in the ANC, we are servants, and we must simply serve the nation.” “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.”

Eastern Cape provincial chair and deputy president hopeful Oscar Mabuyane received a major boost when another nominee Ronald Lamola reportedly withdrew from ...

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa readies himself ahead of the start of the ANC's elective conference. Photo: Tebogo Letsie. POLITICS. As voting at the ANC ...

We have the numbers on our side and we are confident that those we have put forward will emerge. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed. If I don't make it, the people of the Eastern Cape are really waiting for me. So any claim that we have betrayed him and undermined what the branches wanted is misguided. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Ntuli was among those who were openly opposed to the use of slates as he said it entrenched factionalism and undermined the need to select the best leaders for the party.

Ronald Lamola has resisted attempts to get him to withdraw from the leadership race, resulting in a divide in the Ramaphosa faction.

According to regional leaders who attended a meeting of Ramaphosa allies on Saturday afternoon, almost all provincial and NEC members in attendance were of the view that Lamola must withdraw. “Mpumalanga provincial leaders were the only ones who spoke on behalf of Lamola. “You can’t say you are not married to a position and you are willing to withdraw but only if you are convinced. On Friday, negotiations between Mpumalanga provincial leaders and the Eastern Cape leaned towards Oscar Mabuyane, with Ronald Lamola favoured for treasurer general. So as we were discussing who we should nominate from the floor to replace Febe, that disruption by Gauteng was helping. None were able to explain why Potgieter had declined the nomination.

Voting for the ANC's top seven will continue throughout the day, with the results expected on Sunday night.

While negotiating for posts among groupings is allowed, factions imposing a slate on delegates in a “top-down approach” goes against the ANC election commission rules. The nomination process, presided over by Motlanthe and EleXions Agency director Bontle Mpakanyane, was a lengthy affair, with a number of nominations from the floor for the two deputy secretary-general positions in particular. Mbalula is the Ramaphosa caucus pick, but Ntuli also has backing among Ramaphosa supporters. Now Ramaphosa allies are concerned that splitting his supporters’ votes between Lamola and Mabuyane will result in a victory for Mashatile. ANC treasurer Paul Mashatile, who is in the running for the deputy president position, has criticised slate politics, resulting in some across factions aligned to Ramaphosa and his competitor, Zweli Mkhize, viewing him with distrust. Nominations for the top seven leaders wrapped up early on Sunday morning.