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SPECIAL EDITIONDecember 19 2017 @mailandguardian mg.co.za ANC NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2017 Ramaphosa leads but DD aces it

PHOTO: OUPA NKOSI 2 Mail & Guardian Special Edition December 19 2017 ANC National Conference

#SLICEOFLIFE Give us our daily bread

It is my second day coming here. We are hoping Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma would be able to assist us because we have seen her negotiating with other countries and talking peace. I worked for Coca-Cola for more than 29 years, until my contract was terminated in 2014. I joined Coca-Cola in 1984 as a trolley pusher and I was paid R100 a week. In 1994, Coca-Cola paid for me to get a driver’s licence. I then became one of their truck drivers. I won many awards for being the best driver. In 2012, they asked me to run a warehouse in Tembisa. In 2013, I won a trip to Brazil because I performed well. I flew to Brazil, it was my first time flying. It was scary but I enjoyed it a lot. My body felt like it was being turned upside down. Being in Brazil was really nice. I wish I could go back and stay two weeks. In 2014, they wrote me a letter telling me that I had failed to perform as expected. They terminated my contract. I joined this campaign, Golekane! after I lost my job. We want to highlight our victimisation by the company. This is the second day we are coming here. We have been going to places like Sandton to picket. Our hope is that President Zuma or Nkosazana Zuma will be the one who will intervene in this matter. We hope that they will listen to her. I don’t trust because he has been involved with some of these companies. — Moses Mkhonto as told to Bongekile Macupe

Photo: Delwyn Verasamy The best of Twitter from day three Mail & Guardian Special Edition December 19 2017 3 ANC National Conference Slates dashed in top-six election

Some see the election of the top six as one of unity that will solidify the ANC but others fear links to state capture have been retained

M&G Political Reporters yril Ramaphosa has been elected ANC presi- dent in a dramatic elec- Ction for the party’s top six officials in which its branches appear to have rejected slate politics. But the failure to elect a woman as either president or deputy has been described as a setback for achieving gender parity in the party’s — and the country’s — top office. The ANC Women’s League presi- dent , secretary Meokgo Matuba and Small Business Minister were locked in a meeting immediately after the results were announced. The league’s leadership was deliberating on how to respond to the election of only one woman to the top six. Ramaphosa was elected along with two members of his slate — national chairperson and treasurer general . Secretary general , deputy secretary general and deputy president were all on the same slate Victorious: The top six members (from left to right) are Jessie Duarte, as Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Ace Magashule, Gwede Mantashe, Cyril Ramaphosa, David Mabuza and Ramaphosa received 2 440 votes Paul Mashatile. Supporters cheered as their preferred nominees took compared with Dlamini-Zuma’s to the stage – with one, (left) having got one of two of his preferences. 2 261. Photo: Oupa Nkosi Mabuza and Mashatile are under- stood to have played a key role in are. The constitution of the ANC is to the stage, mistakenly thinking convincing branches to elect across very clear about its composition [of that he had won. A stony-faced and slates — and the two emerged as the the national executive committee, clearly embarrassed Mchunu found most popular figures with the voting NEC] being 50-50, so we are confi- Magashule waiting for him. He then delegates. They secured the high- dent that the composition will be walked off stage. est number of votes, with Mashatile reflected because it’s a constitutional The Mail & Guardian has seen a getting 2 517 votes and Mabuza 2 538 matter,” he said. copy of Dlamini-Zuma’s planned votes. Former ANC president Jacob acceptance speech, in which she Enoch Godongwana, the ANC’s Zuma looked shocked and horri- would have announced the imme- former head of economic trans- fied when Ramaphosa’s victory was diate establishment of the long- formation and a key figure in the announced, his face contorting as awaited judicial commission of Ramaphosa campaign, said the way he sat dead still without clapping. inquiry into state capture. branches voted showed that they had He had earlier kept the delegates “The president of the Republic will rejected slate politics. entertained with his trademark be drawing up terms of reference, “The thing is that the bers of the ANC have rejected slates. a democratic organisation and we songs while they waited for the elec- which will include spelling out that branches have not elected a slate. They’ve embraced all.” have always said that we will accept toral commission to announce the this investigation should date back This is a very positive development,” He said the outcome was an indica- any outcome.” result. to the apartheid government,” the he said. “There was no consensus. It tion that the branches were unhappy Before announcing its prefer- The announcement was delayed speech read. did not go according to slates in the with the divisions in KwaZulu-Natal, ence for Dlamini-Zuma in June the for some time while a recount was Earlier this year the ANC took a way they voted. We hope we can sus- caused by the extended conflict youth league had made it clear that carried out, apparently at the request resolution to have Zuma establish tain this unity.” between himself and former chair- it wanted a woman as the next ANC of provincial deployees to the com- the inquiry but soon found itself The rand gained some ground person . president, saying it believed the mission from the provinces support- frustrated after what appeared to be on the dollar in response to Mchunu lost the battle for secre- move would bring much-needed ing Dlamini-Zuma. delay tactics on his part. Ramaphosa’s election, who cam- tary general to Magashule by only 24 change in the party. Dlamini-Zuma sat quietly when Labour federation Cosatu wel- paigned on an anti-corruption and votes. But not only had the ANC failed the result was announced, remain- comed Ramaphosa’s election in the anti-state capture ticket. “For us in KZN, we believe that it to elect a woman to lead the party, it ing in her seat while clapping gen- face of “naked attempts to stop him But the election of Mabuza, is not a sad day but it’s a good lesson. also had one less woman among the tly. But she jumped to her feet in from ascending to the presidency”, it Magashule and Duarte, all of whom It’s a lesson that divisions under- top six. jubilation, clapping furiously, when said in a statement. have been linked to either state cap- mine your strengths. In 1997, when Maine remained measured on Magashule’s narrow victory over “This new leadership collective has ture by the influential we were united, we ensured those whether he found the minimal rep- Mchunu was announced. a mammoth task of healing the deep or other corruption scandals, may who we nominated are elected. In resentation of woman disappointing. Mchunu’s supporters started divisions that have widened over the thwart Ramaphosa’s corruption- 2002, the same happened. And in “We accept the outcomes as they carrying him on their shoulders last 10 years. busting agenda. Polokwane we were united and “We expect them to work hard to In contrast, Eastern Cape chairper- ensured our views emerge. And in rid the organisation of factionalism son Oscar Mabuyane said it would be 2012, at Mangaung, we ensured that The voting by numbers and corruption that has threatened “impossible” for the three to block those we nominated emerged,’’ he to collapse this more than a century initiatives by Ramaphosa. “There is said. “But today, because of that divi- old organisation and ultimately no ANC president that can be neu- sions, we were unable [to have our President Secretary general derail our revolution. tralised by any office. That is the views emerge]. If you come [to con- Cyril Ramaphosa 2 440 Ace Magashule 2 360 “We also expect the new leadership highest office in the ANC. We need a ference] divided, this is what you Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma 2 261 Senzo Mchunu 2 336 collective to revive our revolutionary very strong, effective ANC president [get].’’ alliance.” to do his work and marshall all the ANC Youth League president Deputy president Deputy secretary general Some of Ramaphosa’s support- other forces of the ANC.” Collen Maine said the youth wing, David Mabuza 2 538 Jessie Duarte 2 474 ers are already pushing for a resolu- KwaZulu-Natal ANC chairperson which supported Dlamini-Zuma, 2 159 Zingiswa Losi 2 213 tion in the new year to have Zuma Sihle Zikalala said the branches had would not challenge the outcomes of recalled as president of the country. broken away from slate politics in the election. National chairperson Treasurer general The battle will now move to the their voting patterns. “We support the elected leadership Gwede Mantashe 2 416 votes Paul Mashatile 2 517 80-member NEC, the highest deci- “This is not a slate. This is a bal- and Ramaphosa is part of that collec- 2 269 Maite Nkoana-Mashabane 2 178 sion-making body between ANC ance,” he said. “For me, the mem- tive. It’s a collective,” he said. “We are conferences. 4 Mail & Guardian Special Edition December 19 2017 ANC National Conference

Working-classNot hero: Theall residents of Kananarejoice Park attribute the fortune of havingover four walls for their Zuma’s families to call home to the outgoing presidentdeparture of the ANC, . Photos: Oupa Nkosi

To the people of Kanana Park, he is a father who liberated them from a miserable shack existence

Lucas Ledwaba lizabeth Lihloka weeps quietly and wipes the tears from her eyes with a cloth. E“I’m crying because of Zuma. He helped us.” After a long pause she says: “Bye Zuma, because you gave us houses.” She is sitting in the lounge of her two-bedroom RDP house in Kanana Extension 3 near Orange Farm, Sweet, my man: Timothy south of Johannesburg. Qiqimani (above right) never Zuma delivered his final address imagined that he’d have a home as ANC president at the opening of of his own and now he lives the 54th national conference of the in an RDP house not far from ANC at the Nasrec Expo Centre near his daughter, Ntombekhaya Soweto on Saturday. Qiqimani (above left). Elizabeth He leaves office with his reputation Lihloka (left) is mourning the in tatters and a dismal track record end of Jacob Zuma’s leadership that is arguably the worst of an ANC of the ruling party because he president since the party came to helped her to move from a shack power in April 1994. to her own house in Kanana Under his leadership the party Extension 3. Photos: Oupa Nkosi lost a large number of supporters — and three metros — in the 2016 children. “I never believed I would local government elections. The ever own a house of my own. Zuma has all but crum- has helped us.” bled. The divisions in trade union Qiqimana says life is better now federation Cosatu led to the forma- but he is worried about reports of tion of a breakaway rival federation corruption in government. “He and the South African Communist [Zuma] has delivered even though Party finally lived up to its long-held there is corruption. We support the threat to contest elections on its own. ANC no matter what. We know they The ANC itself has become deeply are messing up and they are eating divided and warring factions are alone. But we support them.” increasingly going to court to settle Ntombekhaya, who survives on internal disputes. income from piece jobs and social But in Kanana Extension 3, Zuma grants, says her greatest wish is that is hailed as a hero. It all started in the ANC conference can bring jobs. May 2010 when he made an unan- ment and the City of Johannesburg his hand in the collapse of the state- Thulamntwana with his four chil- Qiqimana says it doesn’t mat- nounced visit to Sweetwaters, a pov- developed the Kanana Park hous- owned enterprises and the down- dren for nearly 20 years. He had lived ter who becomes president, he just erty-stricken informal settlement. ing project after Zuma’s visit. The grading by international credit rat- in a single-sex men’s hostel during wants to see the ANC continuing to He later told the President’s project, which includes the build- ing agencies mean nothing at all. the apartheid years. But, in the late lead. Co-ordinating Council he had been ing of 3 101 houses, incorporates To Lihloka, he saved them from the 1980s, he joined other migrants to set Although Zuma will go down in moved close to tears by the squalid, the Thulamntwana, Sweetwaters, indignity of life in shacks. up shacks in Thulamntwana. Later history as the weakest, worst and deplorable conditions. He didn’t stop Doornkuil and Bhekaphambili infor- “When it rained, we could not his children joined him from the most destructive president in the there. He promised to change condi- mal settlements. sleep because our shacks leaked. Eastern Cape. history of the 105-year-old liberation tions there by providing housing and Colourfully painted houses have Life is good now,” says an emotional Now he lives in his own RDP movement, in Kanana Extension 3 he services. replaced the ramshackle structures Lihloka, who heard the news of house not far from his daughter will always be revered because of the On Saturday, when Zuma delivered made from cardboard, corrugated Zuma’s stepping down on the radio. Ntombekhaya’s own RDP house in houses that were built. his swan song, Lihloka was in the iron and wooden boards. Timothy Qiqimana, 59, never Extension 3. “He is our father. He gave us home she has occupied since 2013. To the residents, the shadow of believed he would ever have a house “This is my first house,” says the houses,” says Lihloka. — Mukurukuru The Gauteng provincial govern- Zuma’s dodgy friends the Guptas, of his own. He lived in a shack in 35-year-old mother, who has three Media Mail & Guardian Special Edition December 19 2017 5 ANC National Conference ‘Anarchy is on the rise in the party’

The former secretary general criticised the centre in Johannesburg on Monday. situation, becomes a shootout,” said succession, and insisted on every- “The trends indicate that our mem- Mantashe. one’s right to contest for any posi- ANC for using its members as voting tools bership picks up around conferences In his diagnostic report delivered tion, the party would start to emulate and drops around national general at the national policy conference in the United States’s electoral system. Govan Whittles faction resides. The incoming NEC councils. Literally, it means mem- July, Mantashe lamented the politi- “Americanisation of campaigning, [national executive committee] must bership is treated as a tool for vot- cal bankruptcy of ANC members and with full regalia and big cash flows, he ANC’s membership has make concerted efforts to deal deci- ing. Such membership, in the main, poor political education. He said this is beginning to take root. T-shirts been corrupted by rapid sively with [this] and stamp out this has no political life in the ANC. This political bankruptcy was caused by bearing preferred candidates abound increases come election problem. Anarchy is on the rise and accounts for why branches battle to the presence of “bulk membership across the provinces, seriously time and declines during tends to be rewarded.” form a quorum,” Mantashe added. recruitment” and the absence of impairing the organisation in the Tthe remaining period, and The party has 989 736 members, an This is the first time the ANC has “bulk political education”. process. The culture and tradition is being used by recruiters to bolster increase from the 769 870 it recorded admitted that its members are being In the first organisational assess- of the leadership of the movement support for factions competing for at its national general council in used by their leaders to get votes. ment of the social media campaigns managing succession to the benefit national positions. 2015. Mantashe also acknowledged the undertaken by the presidential hope- of the ANC, instead of individuals, is This was the assertion by Gwede “A trend that should concern is high-handed control of the organisa- fuls in the run-up to conference, dying. Comrades tend to opt for the Mantashe in his final organisational that of membership recruitment tion by the “dominant faction”. Mantashe stressed the urgency of narrow approach of advocating for report as secretary general. being intensified towards confer- “A common feature of factionalism developing a social media policy, the rights of individual members to A creeping phenomenon of the ences, mostly as a mechanism for is that a dominant faction behaves saying ANC members were at each elect and be elected. In the long term losing faction collapsing a confer- provinces to garner more delegates. as owners of the ANC that does eve- other’s throats. we are going to end up with a system ence once it appears to have lost Hence membership fluctuations that rybody else favours. This reduces the “It is in this space that comrades of primaries with all its anomalies.” has entered the ANC, and this led to makes our membership look suspect organisation into a bargaining plat- attack and insult one another. We The solution to this, Mantashe chaos in the organisation, he said. in terms of the basic understand- form for factions. The word ‘major- forget that beyond the conference we said, is to develop “strong policies on “In most cases, this tendency is ing of the organisation,” Mantashe ity’ gets factored into the vocabulary will need one another.” internal democracy, rather than hop- supported and co-ordinated at a said in his report, delivered to the of the movement although no voting His report also warned that if the ing to subject those who disagree to national centre where the core of the conference at the Nasrec expo takes place. Every meeting, in this ANC leadership failed to manage disciplinary processes”.

Final words: In his last press briefing as the ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe joked about his healthy, though tense, relationship with the media. Photo: Oupa Nkosi Gwede’s last mantash as secretary general

Govan Whittles person at the ANC’s conference at the relationship. You try to keep it at that responsibility for the decline in disci- duties but also with responding on Nasrec expo centre in Johannesburg. level because, if you don’t, you are pline among ANC members and the behalf of the entire organisation to Gwede Mantashe’s 10 years as secre- In a wide-ranging question and likely to make more mistakes trying increased tensions between compet- the public. tary general of the ANC was defined answer session about the ANC’s to appease each other on a personal ing factions but stressed that collec- “I said: sometimes, if a journalist by ill-disciplined members who future and his relationship with level,” he said. tive leadership had to shoulder most writes an incorrect story, call them didn’t follow the party rules, a break- Zuma, Mantashe remained true to “You can have all the problems of the blame. and ask them about it. It’s impor- down in collective responsibility form — dodging difficult questions with President Zuma but he will “I’m serving in a team, so I also tant to engage with the media at all and a tumultuous relationship with and refusing to reveal any details of not have a problem in talking to the take personal responsibility for any- times,” he said. President Jacob Zuma, he said on how his relationship with the presi- masses of the people. That’s a rare thing and any failure that happens As the for the future, Mantashe Monday. dent broke down. gift; sometimes you can be an intel- in that team. Every leader brings said that he was well aware that the Mantashe’s biggest headache, “Don’t compile a diary of disagree- lectual and lose that aspect. It’s very personal attributes to the collective. national chairperson position is not however, was dealing with party ments. We have come to this confer- critical,” he added, refusing to be Your personal activism as an indi- a full-time one, leaving him with members who launched court ence as outgoing leaders of the ANC, drawn into criticising Zuma. vidual should have helped you con- more free time. actions against the mother body both myself and President Zuma,” His remarks were a U-turn on his tribute more. So I’ll take that blame,” But Mantashe will probably stay without first consulting the ANC’s Mantashe fired off at a journalist comment to the City Press newspa- Mantashe said. out of the government. He described leaders, he said when he spoke to when asked how his relationship per, where he explained in detail how He also had advice for his replace- himself as a party political person. journalists in his final address as with Zuma deteriorated to strictly he only communicates with Zuma on ment, saying that his office needs to “When I step out of that ANC con- secretary general. professional engagements. ANC matters, despite a long, friendly frequently interact with journalists. ference I will be unemployed. So Later, on Monday evening, “As we work, it’s not a personal history of working with him. He explained that the secretariat was if you’re looking for an editor, I’m Mantashe was elected national chair- relationship — it’s a professional Mantashe accepted personal not only tasked with administrative available,” he joked. 6 Mail & Guardian Special Edition December 19 2017 ANC National Conference We need to talk about Jacob

Zuma’s legacy after his 10 amoral years at the helm of the ANC is one of distrust among comrades and the destruction of integrity, democratic processes and the ability to self-reflect

Vukani Mde nal processes are beset by problems and challenges to their legitimacy, he tenure of Jacob and court judgments are as likely a Gedleyihlekisa Zuma as final arbiter of leadership contests president of the ANC has as conference voting. This trend come to an end. His presi- points to a significant deficit of trust. Tdency of the country will Increasingly, members of the party continue to limp along for a while — do not trust their own comrades, weeks, maybe months — but proba- their leaders or even the rules of bly not the 18 or so months our elec- engagement for settling internal toral schedule allows him to stay for. disputes. His fate in that arena will be In his political report to the confer- decided in the next few weeks by a ence, Zuma referred to this trend but, combination of factors — including of course, in a manner in keeping the new ANC leadership, the party’s with his tenuous hold on the reality electoral prospects, various court that most of us take for granted. processes and whatever still has to “We also frown upon the subjec- slither out of the ethical sewer that is tion of our internal organisational the #GuptaLeaks emails. matters to court processes. ANC For the ANC, however, the reck- members should use internal dispute oning is here. The circle that was resolution processes. Judges should opened in Polokwane closes this not be asked to dictate ANC organi- week at Nasrec. The ruling party sational processes and the direction must now assess the legacy of Jacob of the movement,” said Zuma. Zuma as its president. It doesn’t have He further pointed to a previous far to look. All around us at Nasrec, decision the ANC had made — albeit the ruinous inheritance of Zuma’s 10 at a time when there was less distrust years at the head of the ANC lies bare of ANC process than there is now — for all to see. The mess that the con- that members who took the party to ference itself descended into is testi- court in effect “defined themselves mony to this. outside the ANC”, whatever that was Before the conference had even originally intended to mean, and convened, it was obvious something berated the party for its failure to unprecedented had happened to the “implement” this resolution. integrity of internal ANC processes. There was little or no attempt to Two of the party’s provincial execu- understand what the constant legal What’s new? When Jacob Zuma became the ANC’s president in 2007, there were calls to halt the criminal tive committees (PECs) — represent- challenges meant for the perceived probe into him. As he ends his rule , he still faces the 18 charges of corruption. Photo: Mujahid Safodien ing the Free State and KwaZulu- legitimacy of ANC rules, or that of Natal — had their status stripped by those charged with enforcing them. sued a deeply sectarian and factional efforts to weaken and neutralise the that the wrecking ball has been at its courts of law, which denied them the programme that had little to do with alliance partners. most destructive. right to govern over ANC structures f all the deleterious the ideological aims of the ANC and Zuma understood better than his The 13th president of the ANC and barred them from participating aspects of Zuma’s legacy its alliance and everything to do with allies that the path he would follow took a party that commanded 70% in the Nasrec conference. In addi- in the ANC, this is perhaps Zuma’s need for maximum wealth as president would inexorably drive of voter support (in the 2004 general tion, the largest region in a third Othe most significant: in 10 a wedge into the heart of the alli- election) down to 62% in 2014, and accumulation and the consolidation province, North West, was also asked years of disastrous and amoral lead- of narrow patronage networks. ance. He moved stealthily to neuter 54% just two years later in the 2016 to stay away. ership, the ruling party has lost all The blame for this — or at least the power of the two organisations local government polls. As part of This was up from just one PEC capacity for self-examination. This is for the failure to foresee this inevita- to hold him in check and to impede the bargain, he lost the party a large barred from participation in the last why most have waited in vain for the ble outcome — lies with the alliance his ability to control the succes- chunk of its urban base, leading to conference in 2012, and zero back in start of the party’s mythical and sup- partners. sion in a way that served his inter- the loss of most of the country’s big- 2007. posedly inevitable “self-correction”. In the rush to get back at Thabo ests. Stealthily, because as recently gest cities. Interestingly, all the successful Self-correction is a result of self- Mbeki for his marginalisation of as three years ago Cosatu was still It is a matter of great doubt court challenges were brought in the criticism, and self-criticism itself the alliance, neither Cosatu nor the doing his bidding, happily destroying whether the ANC can regain the so-called “premier league” provinces, results from self-examination. Under SACP bothered to commit Zuma the unity of the organised workers’ trust of these urban voters. I am where the provincial party bosses Zuma, the ANC has become the hap- — at the time the only viable path movement to rid it of all resistance to not even persuaded that electing are allies and cronies of Zuma, and less victim of malign forces, foreign to defeating the Mbeki third-term the Zuma project. Ramaphosa would be enough on its were expected to corral provincial powers, enemies, fifth columnists, project — to a minimum policy pro- Today the federation is a shadow own to reverse the tide. Urban vot- delegates to support former African the media, and every other external gramme with measurable outcomes of its former self; weakened, divided ers aren’t just merely angry about Union chairperson — and his ex- influence you can think of. Nothing and clearly defined consequences for and unable to help Ramaphosa even Zuma’s malevolent rule. They have wife and handpicked successor — is of its own doing; no problem deviation. It would prove to be the if it still had the will to be a significant been failed by the ruling party quite Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. This is is ever self-inflicted. This is pretty biggest and most expensive blank player in the palace politics of the apart from Zuma’s ruinous steward- not coincidence. It is a sign of the much Zuma’s personality, which cheque the alliance has written in ANC. ship of the state, not least of which is destructive approach of the Zuma has imprinted itself on the ANC. And favour of the ANC since the dawn of its failure to halt his wicked advance cabal to basic democratic norms, it is not obvious whether this unfor- democracy. or its part, the SACP refused through our politics. more evidence of how little they care tunate trait will cease to be a part It is instructive that the ANC’s two to even endorse anyone. It Ramaphosa or Dlamini-Zuma, the for laws, rules and processes. That of the ANC’s DNA when Zuma is main allies have chosen to play a also took the unprecedented urban working class is all but lost to applies as much inside the ANC as it gone. more muted role in the party’s 2017 Fstep of contesting the ANC in the ruling party. does in the state. One of the paradoxes of Zuma’s succession — the bitter lessons of elections (the Metsimaholo by-elec- It is my prediction that the break- The court judgments barring the time as ANC president is that a man 2007 have sunk in. tion), something the party had stead- ing of their relationship with the two Dlamini-Zuma PECs came close who came to power largely through Cosatu did endorse Cyril fastly resisted doing for a decade in ANC will be Gedleyihlekisa’s longest- to the start of conference and thus the efforts of the South African Ramaphosa as their preferred suc- the hope that the ANC could still be lasting legacy. attracted the most attention, but Communist Party (SACP) and labour cessor to Zuma but it expended none relied upon to pursue a pro-poor gov- they are only the latest in a trend federation Cosatu was, in the final of the overt energy it invested in the ernance agenda. Vukani Mde is a founder and that has become established during analysis, the catalyst for the decisive latter’s campaign 10 years ago. This Perhaps Zuma’s most significant partner at LEFTHOOK, a Zuma’s second term in office. collapse of the tripartite alliance. is surely a deliberate strategy as well legacy for the ruling party has been Johannesburg-based research Everywhere one looks, ANC inter- This is because in office Zuma pur- as the predictable result of Zuma’s on its electoral fortunes. It is here and strategy consultancy Mail & Guardian Special Edition December 19 2017 7 ANC National Conference ‘We were lied to’; ‘It was cooked’

Lobbyists on either side of the CR17 and NDZ central campaign. That dealt us a masala” top six was going to work dates were voted into the top six. blow.” out. “We wanted Paul [Mashatile, the campaigns describe their emotions, exhaustion But the past 24 hours, he said, were “DD [David Mabuza, the new dep- new treasurer general] and Cyril. We and their view of the conference the worst, with extreme highs at the uty ANC president] sold us out and got them but they can’t lead alone, beginning to hearing rumours that lied to us and so did Ace [Magashule, so we will have to make do with the the Ramaphosa camp was to inter- the new secretary general]. They combination we currently have.” Athandiwe Saba making promises and bargaining for dict the conference. know what uMama had in store for But the relief that came after the her to be the first woman president Time dragged on. Credentials were them but they have no idea what announcement has not evaporated he factions have finally of the ruling party. finalised and voting had to finally Cyril will do to them.” the 24 hours of panic and sleepless- become one but not eve- One of her lobbyists said: “I’m begin. His spirit, he said, was still ness he experienced. ryone is happy with how super fine, there is nothing that we high at that point. Cyril Ramaphosa lobbyist “We were here all night and I still the chips fell. Behind the did not do. We believed in her and The feeling of fear started creeping Though Ramaphosa won the elec- haven’t slept. It was one of the most Tscenes for months, lobby- we don’t feel we backed the wrong in about seven hours before the final tion, the backroom lobby is not gruelling voting processes, with so ing and deal-making has been the horse.” announcement was released. happy with the top six outcome. One much running behind schedule. order of the day for the CR17 and He said there were numerous “By that time I began feeling scared Gauteng delegate, who has been lob- Naturally in any process in a cam- NDZ factions. After three days at the sleepless nights, especially in the and I was really unsure what was bying for CR17, explained that he had paign there is a point where you 54th ANC conference the votes were last two months, but the exaggerated going to happen. At times I thought attended many conferences and this, think that you are winning and then finally tallied and the horse-trad- proximity to former president Jacob my stomach was going to start run- the 54th, “was cooked”. you see the other side smiling and ing either paid off or has left them Zuma was her Achilles heel. ning. Anything could happen,” he He said Ramaphosa’s campaign dancing and then you feel scared burnt. “Throughout her career she was said. message was simply to save the ANC. again.” The Mail & Guardian spoke to del- never a proxy for Zuma and all of a He started suspecting they had lost “Cyril has a particular posture He said they constantly had to do egates (who preferred anonymity) sudden the media made this a cen- when he saw “creepy smiles” on the that he has communicated to us in head counts to make sure they had on both sides who ran the machines tral part of her campaign.” faces of Ramaphosa’s supporters. the country and to the international the numbers. “It was an extremely that were the Cyril Ramaphosa But he conceded that KwaZulu- “The messages with numbers were community. He has shown that he stressful and worrying process.” and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Natal and the “premier league” being passed around but I needed is the best candidate, incorruptable Even though the ANC president is campaigns. were not the best partners in NDZ’s the official announcement. I had peo- and truthful. Ramaphosa, the lobbyist is very con- campaign. ple quite high up saying we had lost. “Our campaign has strictly been to cerned about how the swing votes Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s He highlighted the difficulty But people lie all the time.” renew the ANC and bring back the seemed to fluctuate. lobbyist in raising money. “Provinces like When the final announcement was honour of the party,” he said. “This conference was arranged. The ANC MP was defeated despite the ‘premier league’ guys had made he said he understood and, After months of work and lobby- This outcome arranged. There is her team travelling the length and just enough money for their own though disappointed, was looking ing, especially at branch level, at least nothing like this in the history of the breadth of the country lobbying, provinces and not enough for the forward to seeing how the new “mix two of the supporters’ main candi- ANC.” Top six mix ‘will bring a downgrade’

Lynley Donnelly & Lisa Steyn can now definitely expect a credit ratings downgrade.” News that Cyril Ramaphosa had Although the rand had rallied on been elected president of the ANC the results, Jammine did not expect on Monday evening pleased the cur- this to be sustained. rency markets at first, with the rand/ It could be argued that taking dollar exchange rate improving the leader position was the most slightly after the announcement. important win, but the role of sec- But it quickly lost some of its gains retary general — now held by Ace as the market digested the other Magashule — was a very powerful appointments for the top six, to position in the ANC, said Jammine. which only two of Ramaphosa’s pre- Similarly, having David Mabuza in ferred candidates made the cut. the post of deputy president meant Some analysts have called the that there was likely to be little make-up of the ANC’s highest offi- action on corruption, he said. cials “a disastrous combination” and Both members of the “premier “good news for the opposition”, while league” are seen as controversial. others believe unity has won out. Magashule is the long-standing pre- The rand to the dollar had mier of the Free State — presiding improved to R13.10 over the week- over the province when the Gupta end in anticipation of a Ramaphosa family allegedly fleeced a dairy farm win. On Monday, while votes were project to fund a lavish Gupta fam- being counted, it improved to 12.80 ily wedding at Sun City. Allegations Pointing the way: Ramaphosa to convince voters that Business organisations responded and upon announcement of the win, of corruption and other wrongdoing Cyril Ramaphosa’s the top six had changed, according to positively to the announcement of it went to 12.60. But, within half an have also dogged Mabuza, the pre- supporters celebrate his Mathekga. the ruling party’s leaders. hour it had weakened to 12.75. mier of Mpumalanga. election as ANC president To make it worse, he argued, con- Business Unity (Busa) It is yet to be seen how the stock It was now highly unlikely that but analysts, economists troversial figures such as Magashule chief executive Tanya Cohen said in a and bond markets will react upon Jacob Zuma would leave his position and business leaders’ views and Mabuza had been added to the statement that business stood ready opening on Tuesday morning. at president of the country before his were a mixed bag. mix. to work in partnership with the Economic strategist at Argon Asset term ends in 2019, said Jammine. Photo: Oupa Nkosi “This is just good news for the newly elected leaders. But, she said, Management, Thabi Leoka, said the “Opposition parties — both the opposition,” Mathekga said. “We they would need to take decisive market was clearly anticipating a EFF [Economic Freedom Fighters have to ask ourselves who, on this steps to build business confidence Ramaphosa win, given that the rand/ and the DA [Democratic Alliance] — top six, controls the levers of power and to have a practical plan of action dollar exchange was at a six-month are probably rubbing their hands in in the ANC, and David Mabuza has to address economic woes. low in the run-up to the announce- glee,” said Jammine. “This is terrible more power than anyone else.” Business Leadership South Africa ment, and so had positioned itself for the ANC.” Ramaphosa, who has been seen as congratulated the top six and well. Political analyst Ralph Mathekga a “market friendly” candidate, was called on them to provide regula- “I think the outcome is a strike of argued that this conference was, now likely to face resistance when tory certainty and policy stability genius for the ANC … I guess unity in reality, won by Mabuza, who it came to driving economic policy. that would accelerate and deepen happened,” Leoka said. “It will got more votes than Ramaphosa. He “would be seriously moderated” transformation. be interesting to see if Cyril Mabuza won his post with 2 538 when it came to policy formulation, The South African government Ramaphosa will be able to push votes. argued Mathekga. bond yield — the benchmark interest through policies he wanted to push Ramaphosa narrowly won the “This is just good “This means radical economic rate the government pays to borrow- through with a unity top six … policy presidency with 2 440 votes against transformation is going ahead. It ers — also improved, reaching 8.85% is determined by the ANC and not by opponent Nkosazana Dlamini- news for the opposition. will be in moderation but it is going by the time the bond market closed individuals.” Zuma’s 2 261 votes. We have to ask ahead,” he said. at 5pm. Trade will open again on Azar Jammine, chief economist The return of “very problematic” George Herman, director of Tuesday morning. at Econometrix, said the combina- members of the top six such as Jesse ourselves who, on Citadel Investment Services, said Certain stocks with higher expo- tion of leaders in the top six was a Duarte and Gwede Mantashe, who this top six, controls Ramaphosa’s key challenge as ANC sure to the economy, such as retail- “disastrous combination” despite have presided over the deteriora- the levers of power president will be to deliver economic ers and banks, also saw share prices Ramaphosa’s win. “It is a recipe for tion of the ANC under Zuma, meant policy certainty to regain investor increasing before the market closed continued paralysis and I think we it was going to be very hard for in the ANC” confidence. on Monday. 8 Mail & Guardian Special Edition December 19 2017 ANC National Conference uBaba’s left us two Dark Lords

The Mail & Guardian’s series of satirical first-hand accounts of the ANC’s national conferences through the eyes of insiders continues with another delegate update, this time from a Gauteng Cyril Ramaphosa- supporting delegate, Hennessy Tabane

hings are getting tense at the ANC’s national elective conference. Comrades are suffering Tfinger-fatigue from the continuous number-crunching that accompanies all the backstabbing and double-crossing that passes as lobbying before the party’s “top six” vote. None more so than Enoch Godongwana, the Cyril Ramaphosa lobbyist and ANC national execu- tive member. The comrade has been permanently peering at his smart- phone calculator because of all these rumours of double-back-flip-cabri- oles to the other side by various sec- tions of delegates running through the conference rumour mill. Just when you think you’ve nailed down a voting bank someone goes and doubles their airtime and triples Yesterday’s man: ANC president Jacob Zuma had 18 presidential guards and 10 spooks with him for his walkabout on day three. Photo: Oupa Nkosi their blessings. The ANC is becom- ing less Albertina Sisulu and more has been putting into the CR17 cam- counted while I write this on my copy to stop his businessman-blesser Roy It will be, rather, the sight of a Khanyi Mbau by the day. If only it paign of late. He is a serious cat and of the organisational review before Moodley from photo-bombing one of driver slumped asleep at the wheel ran like a canary yellow Lamborghini it would halve the collective IQ of the making a paper jet and sending it off these choreographed fl esh-pumpers. of his car, which was waiting for the instead of a battered Citi Golf on current ANC national executive com- hopefully towards the media com- Moodley was lingering in the back- robot to change at the busy intersec- bricks. mittee if he were to be purged. pound where the Mail & Guardian ground with the expectant look of a tion leading into Nasrec. Hooting Which is why it’s time to end the Our man in the CR17 accounts sub-editors have been incarcerated brown envelope in the back pocket didn’t wake him up, neither did the Zupta control of the ANC and start department assures me that some in a newsroom shack. So I’m still on on his face. earnest tapping of his mates on his a new Oppenheimer dawn for the Mpumalanga delegates may have edge about the results. It is because of Msholozi and his window. Eventually two traffi c cops country. Our Man from Marikana skinned their own cat, provincial Everybody’s paranoid. Including dodgier-than-thou ways that we with too much to do managed to must become president of this august chairperson DD Mabuza. If the dark uButternuthead, who had 18 presi- are contemplating a “top six” with rouse the slumber-bunny. The traf- movement — even if he doesn’t read Lord Voldemort of Barberton is dential guards plus another 10 plain- Mabuza as deputy president and fi c cops motioned for the comrade to transformation reports and calls for running out of lives, that leaves me clothes spies clotheslining the media Magashule as secretary general. pull over and sleep away his drunk- the police’s “concomitant action” concerned about driveway drive- mob during his presidential walk- Which is a bit like imagining Pablo enness. He nodded in groggy agree- against protesting citizens while bys and poisoned kisses of death at about of the progressive business Escobar running government busi- ment. But as the coppers turned drawing some fat pay cheques. Nasrec. forum earlier today. Couldn’t have ness while Al Capone does the same their attention towards a blue lights I hope Godongwana’s tendons But it may explain why Free State happened to a nicer lot, mind you, at the ANC. looking for a thoroughfare, the won’t snap before he has the oppor- not-chairperson Ace Magashule was but Nxamalala better realise that If there is an enduring memory of driver with smart handbrake turn, tunity to stick the middle fi nger to looking so glum, sitting slumped and he is so yesterday’s news that South the conference it will not be Zuma’s jigga’d. uBaba after the votes have been alone on a park bench in the confer- Africans are already hoping to use fi nal political report to the ANC. Nor That, in a nutshell, is how counted. The comrade deserves that ence laager earlier. him to line the parrot cage. will it be his crocodile tears at the Nxamalala has been doughnutting satisfaction after all the hard work he The votes are still being hand- Perhaps he needed the bodyguards end of this conference. his route away from the law.

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