CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA MAY 7: Africa Union Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma speaks during the Africa Investor (Ai) Infrastructure Investor Summit on May 7, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa. The annual development summit is held mainly for infrastructure investors and project developers. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Danielle Karallis)
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA MAY 7: Africa Union Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma speaks during the Africa Investor (Ai) Infrastructure Investor Summit on May 7, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa. The annual development summit is held mainly for infrastructure investors and project developers. (Photo by Gallo Images / Foto24 / Danielle Karallis)
The ANC KZN leadership structure has been in a terrible state this year. So it perhaps comes as no surprise that the whole PEC has been dissolved. Only starting afresh is a logical path to sorting the whole mess out.
The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg has granted an application for leave to appeal by the provincial executive committee (PEC) of the ANC, led by chairperson Sihle Zikalala.
The provincial leadership of the ANC had applied for leave to appeal a September ruling of the same court‚ which declared the local elective conference held in 2015 null and void.
Well, presidential candidate Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma won’t be thanking the timings of Judge Rishi Seegobin. His decision to scrap the entire Provincial Executive Committee will have an adverse impact on her bid to take the reigns from Jacob Zuma, at this weekend’s ANC Elective Conference
For you see, there are technically no representatives from KwaZulu-Natal. They are a province who have thrown their backing behind NDZ. But now, they will no longer be able to cast their vote for the next leader of the ANC.
They would have had 27 votes, all expected to go to Dr Dlamini-Zuma. She trails in the race at the moment, and has effectively lost her strongest fan-base. The eight other provinces in attendance will also get 27 votes to cast. Ramaphosa and NDZ will be battling for 216 votes in total, instead of the nine-province total of 243.
The delegates who have lost their rights at the ballot can still attend the conference, though. However, their influence will be limited at best.
The factional troubles began in 2015, when Sihle Zikalala was elected as the State Premier ahead of then-incumbent Senzo Mchunu. However, his victory came amid a backdrop of politically-motivated murders, and rising suspicions of corruption. It’s a matter that has been dragged through the courts time and time again
To add insult to injury, Mchunu – fighting to retain the Premiership – is a strong Ramaphosa loyalist. How’s your luck, Nkosazana?