Durban — With less than three weeks to the EFF elective conference in KwaZulu-Natal, current chairperson Vusi Khoza and secretary Sifiso Mthethwa were expected to face a stiff challenge from other senior members of the party who had raised their hands for the influential positions.
Khoza, who has confirmed his availability if nominated, would face a challenge from his current deputy Mongezi Thwala, while Mthethwa would be contested by Umhlathuze deputy mayor and current provincial spokesperson Nkululeko Ngubane for the secretary position.
On Khoza’s line-up, Vukani Ndlovu, who is currently a councillor in eThekwini, comes up as secretary.
Khoza said he would only decline the nomination if there was a female candidate because he felt it was time for a woman to lead the EFF in the province.
Thwala, who comes from Newcastle, also confirmed his availability, saying the party’s constitution discouraged members from refusing deployment therefore he would not disappoint branches.
Ngubane quoted the same clause of the party’s constitution and said since he joined the party he had never turned down any deployment – from being a regional convener in King Cetshwayo to the regional secretary as well as the provincial spokesperson. Ndlovu also confirmed his availability.
The conference is scheduled to take place at Olive Convention Centre in Durban from October 7-9.
If elected, Ndlovu would be making a comeback in the party’s provincial top hierarchy. Ndlovu defeated Khoza for the chairperson position in the 2015 conference, but his leadership was disbanded in 2017. Ndlovu lost to Khoza in the following year’s conference but now he is Khoza’s running mate.
A chief lobbyist for Thwala and Ngubane’s slate said ideally the EFF was for the youth, so as much as they appreciated Khoza and Mthethwa’s leadership for increasing support in the province in the general and local government elections in 2019 and last year, it was time to make way for young blood to take the party to new heights.
The party is on an upward trajectory in the province, increasing from two seats to eight in the legislature. It also did well in last year’s local government elections, especially eThekwini municipality, where it increased from eight seats to 24. It is expected to be part of a coalition that political analysts predict for the province.
Daily News