Johannesburg – The branches of senior ANC leaders close to President Jacob Zuma have nominated his opponent, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, as ANC leader, the Sunday Times reports.
Motlanthe was nominated by branch 42 in Boksburg, whose membership includes ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe. He received an “overwhelming” 90 votes to Zuma's seven, according to the weekly.
Cape Town's Gaby Shapiro branch also chose Motlanthe.
SA Communist Party deputy general secretary Jeremy Cronin, who is also public works deputy minister, belongs to the branch, as does Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Both left the meeting shortly before nominations began, the paper reported. – Sapa