The Mpumalanga ANC’s biggest region, Ehlanzeni, has endorsed justice and correctional services minister Ronald Lamola to contest the deputy presidency at the ANC national elective conference in December.
Chairperson of the Ehlanzeni region, Jackie Masiye, told ANC members attending the Walter Sisulu memorial lecture that the region was behind President Cyril Ramaphosa and Lamola. The branch hopes that Lamola will topple current deputy president David Mabuza.
Provincial task team member of the ANC Youth League, Zwelo Masilela, also told the crowd that the league backed Lamola.
“As from today, we want to assure you that the ANC at Ehlanzeni is ready to deliver the ANC the leader of this country come the 2024 general election. No amount of intimidation or people holding parallel events will stop us. The time for the ANC has started. When we talk of the unity of the ANC we are not talking of the unity which we saw towards Nasrec [the 2017 ANC conference],” said Masiye.
“The person we are celebrating here [Sisulu] was the youngest general secretary of the ANC and one of the founding fathers of the ANCYL. We have a programme to educate and unite members of the ANC. Once members of the ANC are united, we will unite society.”
“Comrade Lamola, please, when your name is called at the right time, you must respond,” he added.
When asked about his availability for the position, Lamola said he was not going to disagree with the party when its members call his name for any position in the ANC.
“Obviously that will be informed by the processes of the ANC. It’s a reality that the ANC must renew itself and must renew its leadership, and must reflect he youthfulness of the South African population.
“It must take into account that the DA was once led by the youngest person, which is Mmusi Maimane, [while] the second-biggest opposition [EFF] is led by a young person. The ANC must adapt to that level but I will be able to answer the questions direct when the nomination process starts, but I have never refused any responsibility bestowed on me,” said Lamola.
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