The timing of the ANC elective conference at the end of the year puts incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa in a precarious position whether he wins or manages to lose to an expected challenger from the radical economic transformation (RET) faction.
Sydney Majoko argues that if Ramaphosa is to win at the conference scheduled for December, he’ll spend much of 2023 trying to sell some sort of idea of unity within the party, but if he is to lose, he’ll spend his remaining time as president of the country fighting to finish his term.
We’ve seen this sort of situation play out before when Thabo Mbeki lost the ANC presidency to Jacob Zuma in 2007 while the former remained president of the country. Mbeki transitioned into somewhat of a lame-duck president over the next nine months before ultimately being recalled by the party, which had fully embraced Zuma by that stage.
If we cast our minds back even further to the 1997 elective conference where Mbeki was first elected as ANC president, Nelson Mandela continued as the nation’s president until 1999 when Mbeki was elected.
But even then, while the transition was smooth there is a long-held belief that Mbeki was calling most of the shots while he waited to ascend to the throne.
Many have suggested that the ANC presidential election and the national election should run closer together to avoid a potential power struggle and vacuum when new leaders are elected and given the ANC has won every democratic election since 1994.
Here’s a round-up of opinions, editorials, and in-depth articles we’re reading:
Mandy Wiener | Don’t blame Eskom and De Ruyter for load shedding, blame the ANC and Mantashe – News24 (for subscribers)
RET faction applying Bell Pottinger’s tactics to box Ramaphosa – The Citizen (for subscribers)
Carol Paton | Don’t expect accountability now that Pravin and Enoch’s SAA spat is over – Fin24 (for subscribers)
Ralph Mathekga | Flag project: A monumental waste of money – News24 (for subscribers)
Working from home: I miss those lazy office days – The Citizen (for subscribers)
Questionable, sometimes outright dishonest conduct by handful of lawyers a worrying trend – Daily Maverick
EXPLAINER | Fifth wave of Covid-19 infections: What is the state of the pandemic in SA? – News24
EDITORIAL: Structural reforms gain momentum but need voomah – Business Day (for subscribers)
