Tshwarelo Hunter Mogakane
Pretoria - Supporters of Deputy President David “DD” Mabuza are adamant that their presidential candidate will emerge from the floor at the ANC’s 55th national conference at Nasrec, Joburg, this weekend.
The main campaigners have been cautioned against “airing” their strategy in public, but some in the camp believe it is “too little too late” to stop Mabuza from being elected party president.
Some spoke to the Pretoria News following a viral political poster, bearing ANC Mpumalanga chairperson Mandla Ndlovu’s face, in which he was quoted insinuating Mabuza’s days as the “big man” were over. “A fish can be big in a small pond, but small in a big ocean … In reference to the leadership election for the national conference,” the poster stated.
Contacted for comment on the interpretation of the statement, Ndlovu did not deny speaking the words. It is “self explanatory”, he said.
Ndlovu is a well-known supporter of President Cyril Ramaphosa to secure a second term as ANC president.
He has been making moves to sway Mpumalanga branches into Ramaphosa’s favour, but his campaign has inevitably been met with some resistance.
Currently, Mabuza’s supporters are certain he has “underground” numbers from numerous branches in the Free State, North West, Limpopo and parts of Gauteng. His main challenge has been to convince Ndlovu to join his presidential campaign.
It is no secret that Mabuza enjoys the support of individuals in the ANC’s top structure in his home province.
His main supporter is groundsman, Mandla Msibi, reportedly closer to becoming the province’s premier, despite him not being chairperson of the ANC provincial structure, only its treasurer.
“Msibi is the engine credited with Mpumalanga’s success at the polls while the ANC’s national numbers dwindled. He knows how to work the ground and the branches stand with him.
“That is why he was framed for murder, arrested and charged, only for the charges to be withdrawn. The charges were part of a plot to prevent his election to the PEC. They failed and now he is
back,” said a businessman close to the Mabuza campaign. It was a “wrong” perception by Mabuza’s detractors in Mpumalanga that once he becomes president, those aligned to him would effectively “run the province” in terms of state procurement.
“There is a suspicion that once he is inaugurated, we will be the president’s spoilt brats, but that is untrue.
“Our work as businessmen is to empower communities through job creation. Check how many people were employed or having businesses when DD was still premier. It is not about self-enrichment, but economic empowerment,” he said. “DD can rescue the country from rogue interests.”
A former teacher who has watched Mabuza’s political rise believes the deputy president is likely to go beyond reaching the 25% threshold from the conference floor this weekend.
“We’ve observed Mabuza going from being a school principal at Lungisani Secondary School in Manzini Trust, to becoming a top strategist in South African politics. He’s a dynamite in a small package.
“As a former educator, Mabuza understands how to defeat Macbeth when the ruler is so sure of his immortality.
Remember the three witches who tricked Macbeth into believing he would never be defeated, unless the trees of Birnam Wood miraculously moved to the palace of Dunsinane? It’s going to happen.”
Mabuza would use the same wisdom, but a different strategy from the one he used when he emerged as deputy president of the ANC at Nasrec in 2017. “Nasrec will witness an unlikely army of branches from various parts of the country arriving on that nomination floor like Birnam Wood soldiers – a historic move … something many think is impossible.”
Msibi had not responded to requests for comment on the Mabuza campaign. Those close to him said he believed in Mabuza’s “element of surprise”.
Meanwhile, the ANC race to Nasrec 2 has been fraught with dirty mudslinging, money laundering scandals and controversies involving its leaders and conference nominees. Last week, several NEC meetings were held to deal with the Phala Phala albatross around Ramaphosa’s neck.
The NEC eventually instructed its MPs to vote against adoption of the Section
89 panel report, which found Ramaphosa may have breached some constitutional provisions as state president. On Thursday, ANC presidential nominee Dr Zwelini Mkhize was sabotaged during a Zoom session organised by the Press Club. A character named Dennis Obare interrupted Mkhize while he was criticising Cabinet members who served under former president Jacob Zuma during the “wasted years”.
“Sir, I have to disagree by showing this,” said the character, introducing an explicit sex video. The Press Club apologised and vowed to tighten its cyber security. Earlier, Outa (Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse), also demanded Mabuza be arrested for alleged land fraud dating back almost 15 years.
Pretoria News