Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, the small business development minister, could become the next ANC deputy president or one of the two deputy secretaries, if some elements of the Eastern Cape party leadership get their way.
The process of branch nominating their preferred candidates for the December conference officially kicked off yesterday after the ANC NEC endorsed a report on the audited membership numbers.
The proposal to have Ndabeni-Abrahams occupy the party’s number two position is said to have been made by health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth and supported by social development MEC and ANC Women’s League provincial chairperson Bukiwe Fanta.
It comes as a shock move with the premier and provincial chairperson Oscar Mabuyane having seemed to have unanimous support for the ANC’s second-most powerful position.
“Meth raised the point about Stella being the deputy president. She was seconded by Fanta and their argument was that if provincial chairperson Mabuyane goes to the national office, this will create instability both in politics and governance. They argued ‘let’s rather second someone who already has a national profile’,” the insider, who was present at the meeting, said.
Meth declined to comment and instead referred questions to provincial spokesperson Loyiso Magqashela.
The province is said to be pushing for an amendment in the ANC’s constitution to allow for two deputy secretary-generals in the office of the secretary-general. This move is supported by other provinces.
While there was no clear consensus by the time the meeting concluded between the two candidates, another insider said there was a group that supported Ndabeni-Abrahams occupying the position of deputy secretary-general (DSG).
A third insider said Mabuyane was left blind-sided by the view of the Women’s Caucus as they campaigned alongside him when he was re-elected in May.
“The Eastern Cape is going to nominate Stella. The meeting from yesterday disappointed him. Even [provincial deputy chairperson Mlungisi] Mvoko was surprised. They never knew the people working with him would come so strongly on a different position.
“The principle is that the Women’s Caucus says they can’t wait another term to have a female deputy president. The other principle we resolved on was to amend the Constitution of the ANC to allow for a second DSG,” the third insider said.
The ANC in the Eastern Cape has endorsed Cyril Ramaphosa and Gwede Mantashe for second terms as president and national chairperson respectively. The Eastern Cape is now the fourth province to endorse Ramaphosa for a second term after Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West.
Other candidates for the position of deputy president are treasurer-general Paul Mashatile, human settlements minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and justice minister Ronald Lamola, who was endorsed by the PEC in Mpumalanga on Friday.
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