By Weekend Argus Reporters and Political Staff
The ANC is involved in intense backroom negotiations which could see Ebrahim Rasool stay on as premier of the Western Cape.
It is reliably understood that a groundswell of support for Rasool has forced the ANC's national executive committee to reconsider their decision to axe him, amid fears his departure could see the province fall into DA hands in next year's elections.
A week ago the NEC decided to remove Rasool and Eastern Cape premier Nosimo Balindlela. Now it is reported that the Mbeki-supporting Eastern Cape party leadership is fighting back against a campaign by Zuma supporters and alliance partners to appoint SACP treasurer Phumulo Masualle as premier.
In Cape Town the national ANC and various caucuses are said to have been locked in negotiations for days to find a solution to what could be a crisis in the run-up to a general election that is less than a year away.
The NEC's decision to remove Rasool in a bid to heal the years-old schism in the provincial party was met with disbelief by many.
The provincial ANC consists of those loyal to Rasool and chairman James Ngculu, who are broadly Mbeki-supporting, and those in the camp of provincial secretary Mcebesi Skwatsha and his lieutenants Max Ozinsky and Garth Strachan, all Zuma supporters.
Last week, Rasool supporters said they did not understand why Rasool was facing the axe while Skwatsha remained untouched.
Party insiders say the influential Muslim Judicial Council's criticism of the ANC's decision to fire Rasool just weeks after declaring its support for the ANC had raised concern among senior members. It is understood to be one of many organisations, businesses and people who have approached the party to express their concern at Rasool's axing.
The negotiations are said to be so sensitive that by late on Saturday no one was prepared to speak on the record.
But one source said: "Meetings have been called, but no one is speaking about what is going on. Everyone is working towards finding a compromise which we hope will start leading to the healing of the divisions in the Western Cape."
The Rasool and Ngculu-aligned camp will meet next Sunday to caucus and prepare for the party's provincial conference which has been postponed until next month.
A regional leader sympathetic to Rasool told Weekend Argus that they were confident of capturing the province and were unhappy about Luthuli House's decision to fire Rasool, leaving Skwatsha unscathed.
"The NEC could not disband the PEC (provincial executive committee), although they are aware it's dysfunctional, because they know that their man Skwatsha is in a strong administrative position where he can influence the membership. They know that they can't remove (James) Ngculu alone. The whole PEC would have to go," said the regional leader.
In the Eastern Cape the issue of Balindlela's replacement has become a point of contention. The provincial executive committee clashed with the SACP, Cosatu and four ANC regions over who should be punted as a potential successor.
As a compromise, the Eastern Cape leadership has forwarded six names to Luthuli House, including Economic Affairs MEC Mbulelo Sogoni, Housing MEC Thoko Xasa and Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Legislature Gloria Barry. But the alliance has Agriculture MEC Gugile Nkwinti, PEC member Mcebisi Jonas and Masualle on its list.
Weekend Argus understands the ANC's national working committee will decide on the matter when it meets tomorrow.
Last week ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told a meeting of asset managers in Cape Town that the North West, Free State and Northern Cape were now identified for troubleshooting by the ANC's national leadership. There would be no "wholesale" removal of people from leadership positions, he told them.