Johannesburg - ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has lifted the lid on the party's possible early conference to elect new leadership following the party's humiliating losses in major metros during the local government elections.
Mantashe said a call made by the party's youth league for an early conference to renew the leadership of the ANC was “not a bad one” and this was being discussed by the party.
The confirmation is likely to pave the way for intense lobbying in the party for a preferred candidate to succeed President Jacob Zuma.
The ANCYL is openly in favour of AU commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma as successor.
But Mantashe warned against the ANC throwing away what it has in its quest for organisational renewal. He said the party has accepted declines in support shown during municipal election as a collective responsibility and not an individual one.
Last week the youth league urged the ANC to convene an early conference
It said under the current leadership the problems the party faces would not be overcome. The league also called for expulsion of some leaders in Gauteng but Mantashe said the call was “factional and sponsored”.
The Star