The race for the election of the next Mpumalanga ANC chair is hotting up with more candidates throwing their names in the hat ahead of next month's party conference.
Acting chair Mandla Ndlovu is facing strong contenders in premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, former chair Fish Mahlalela, former provincial secretary Lucky Ndinisa and former deputy chairperson to Deputy President David Mabuza, David Dube.
Mahlalela, who is the latest leader to join the race through a grouping called “Mayibuye”, is pinning his hopes on his vast experience in government and in the party. His campaigners said he wants to restore the party in the province to its “glory days”.
“We strongly believe that comrade Fish Mahlalela can free the ANC in the province from micromanagement where the party is run from people’s houses. Given the vast experience of Mahlalela, the ANC can go back to its glory days in the province of Mpumalanga,” said Mahlalela's campaigner Senzeni Ngubeni.
Mtshweni-Tsipane also reaffirmed her availability after she was dumped by her former faction called “Ngci”, which has now put forward Ndinisa as its preferred candidate. Her slate boasts people mostly in cabinet, including Mabuza’s ally Sibusiso Sigudla.
Ndinisa, who was secretary during Mabuza’s first and second term as chair, told Sowetan that his ambitions to lead the party have nothing to do with him being approached by Mabuza.
“When branches approached me to stand, I availed myself. I hear people talking about being approached by Mabuza and those comrades supporting me being allies to Mabuza, but the truth is I haven’t spoken to Mabuza about my candidacy. I may not know if those comrades were approached by Mabuza, but everybody knows our campaign has been there since 2018,” said Ndinisa.
The position of ANC chair in Mpumalanga became vacant after Mabuza was elected to the national executive committee of the party in December 2017.
However, the ANC in Mpumalanga failed several times to elect his replacement because of violence at branch meetings, which led to the deaths of two members of the party, as well as Covid-19 restrictions.
The ANC provincial elective conference in Mpumalanga is expected to take place at the end of May.
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