ANC RELEASES CANDIDATE LISTS FOR TOP PARTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 004157

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV SF
SUBJECT: ANC RELEASES CANDIDATE LISTS FOR TOP PARTY
POSITIONS


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(
b) and (d).


1. (U) The ANC on 6 December publicly announced its
candidates for the top party positions, as well as candidates
for the National Executive Committee (NEC). Each of the top
six positions will be contested by two candidates, almost all
of whom are firmly grounded in either the Mbeki or ZUMA camp.
The only name in question is Tokyo Sexwale, who was
nominated for the position of Chairman and who is running
against a steadfastly loyal Mbeki-ite. The nominations list
is final, as all candidates have accepted (only ForMin
Dlamini-Zuma was nominated for two positions, but declined to
be nominated for Chair, instead accepting the nomination for
Deputy President). The candidates are as follows:

ANC President: President Thabo Mbeki and ANC Deputy President
Jacob ZUMA

ANC Deputy President: ForMin Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
(pro-Mbeki),ANC Secretary General Kgalema Motlanthe
(pro-Zuma)

ANC Chairperson: ANC Policy Advisor Joel Netshitenzhe
(pro-Mbeki),former Gauteng Premier Tokyo Sexwale (unclear)

Secretary General: Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota

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(pro-Mbeki),SACP Chair Gwede Mantashe (pro-Zuma)

Deputy Secretary General: Public Works Minister Thoko Didiza
(pro-Mbeki),Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete (pro-Zuma)

Treasurer General: Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
(pro-Mbeki),former Mpumalanga Premier Mathews Phosa
(pro-Zuma)


2. (U) As for the NEC, 158 names have been submitted, but
only the top sixty will be accepted. (NOTE: The 66-member
NEC consists of the top six official positions, plus sixty
additional members. END NOTE). Only seven of the current NEC
members were not renominated, including MP Kader Asmal,
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Mathews Phosa (who will
automatically become NEC members if elected to top
positions),Enoch Godongwana, Dumisani Makhaye, Free State
Premier Beatrice Marshoff, and Dullah Omar. Potentially
prominent newcomers to the NEC include COSATU President
Willie Madisha, former Deputy Health Minister Nozizwe
Madlala-Routledge, former First Lady Winnie Mandela, ANC
Youth League Leader Fikile Mbalula, DepForMin Sue van der
Merwe, and Tokyo Sexwale.


3. (C) COMMENT: While the list gives insight into the
front-runners, it has also raised process questions.
According to official ANC documents outlining the nominations
process, the names of the top three candidates for each of
the top six positions would be nominated. Since only two
people are running for each position, it is also unclear if
Sexwale's name was added by the ZUMA camp after Dlamini-Zuma
backed out, or if he came in third. Speculations about
Sexwale's overnight loyalty to ZUMA have surfaced, but may
stem from the simple fact he is running against Netshitenzhe,
who is clearly in the Mbeki camp. END COMMENT.
BOST