Johannesburg - The ANC's OR Tambo region is divided over whether to back Gwede Mantashe or Fikile Mbalula as the party’s secretary-general, the Dispatch Online reported on Thursday.
“The view is very strong on change in the presidency, but there are different views when it comes to the secretary-general position,” regional deputy secretary Lawrence Mambila was quoted as saying.
“There are branches that want Mantashe to retain his position, while others want Mbalula.”
Branches had assessed their leaders and were choosing the one they thought would better lead the ANC.
“We do not want to impose leaders on people. What we promote as the OR Tambo leadership is that they must first scan the environment before making a choice,” Mambila said.
Branches who wanted Mantashe to retain his position argued that he held the party's organisational memory and came from the Eastern Cape.
Sapa