Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaigners in KwaZulu-Natal have pinned their hopes on the northern regions to boost support for the man they want elected as next party president in December.
According to statistics released by the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC) late last week, former AU Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma was leading the race in the ANC’s biggest province.
The PEC said Dlamini Zuma had, by Thursday, been nominated by 247 branches, Ramaphosa by 69 and ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize by only two.
More than 500 branch nomination meetings that had not convened last week sat at the weekend, and their results may be known today.
Ramaphosa’s campaigner in Abaqulusi, Lawrence Dube, said given how close the two candidates are there would be trade-off negotiations with candidates Lindiwe Sisulu, who had been earmarked to be Ramaphosa’s deputy, and Mkhize.
PEC member Kwazi Mshengurevealed that by late last week Ramaphosa was leading in Abaqulusi, Inkosi Bhambatha and Emalahleni regions followed by Dlamini Zuma with Mkhize in the third spot .
In the far north of the province the leaders were neck and neck.
He said that outside northern KZN, the Lower South Coast Region was the only region where Ramaphosa was hoping for a good performance.
“Because of these regions, we are looking at at least about 500 delegates, or will either have 50/50 with them, or we will be slightly bigger than them or they will be slightly bigger than us,” Dube said.
Ramaphosa was also making inroads in the Abaqulisi region that is made up of Vryheid, Dumbe, Paulpietersburg, Ulundi and Nongoma, he said.
“In my region of Abaqulusi, we (Ramaphosa supporters) are leading. There are 36 branches that
have already sat,” he said, adding that appeals were expected in Dumbe, Ulundi and Vryheid.
ANC provincial secretary Super Zuma said, since Thursday, his office had received seven formal appeals from various regions.