AFRICA’S BEST READ SPECIAL EDITIONDecember 18 2017 @mailandguardian mg.co.za ANC NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2017 Unity? What unity? Slate politics rule Page 3 PHOTO: DELWYN VERASAMY 2 Mail & Guardian Special Edition December 18 2017 ANC National Conference #SLICEOFLIFE A break in poverty’s circle I sell ox livers and hearts at home in Dobsonville. I learned to cook from the streets. I went to the spice shop and asked for the best mix so I could sell more of my product. Liver isn’t like chops or any other meat; it’s very sensitive. At first, I made some mistakes, but you improve with mistakes. There was a recipe I was using before but it wasn’t good and my customers didn’t like it. Then I changed the kinds of spices I was using. Now they love it. When I was little, we used to go on Sundays and buy liver. My mother used to cook it, but my wife, she’s the best cook, because she has a passion for it. My wife encouraged me to start this catering business. We met at a birthday party; she was turning 21. Her charisma and her sense of humour stood out for me. I didn’t ask her out. She just became my friend, and we started talking to one another. My wife is my treasure. I have a son and two daughters. My son is in the art business. He wrote a book of poetry. I have a copy of it in the car. He’s into poetry, music, rap, all sorts of things. My older daughter is going into grade 12 next year. When I heard that Jacob Zuma had announced free education, I felt at least something is coming because my wife, she is the only one who is working. She does administration but it doesn’t pay much money. Free education would go a long way for us. If my children can study further — that circle of poverty? — they’ll break it. — Xolani Mantshongo, as told to Laura Lopéz González Photo: Delwyn Verasamy The best of Twitter from day two Mail & Guardian Special Edition December 18 2017 3 ANC National Conference Unity? No, its divisive slate politics Zweli Mkhize said he Voting procedure was hotly debated by delegates in the main declined nomination plenary, with disagreements over for the sake of unity, the electoral commission’s refusal to allow them to enter the voting but he has apparently booth with a list of their preferred made deals with both candidates. The KwaZulu-Natal delegation presidential candidates vociferously made their presence felt on the nomination floor by Paddy Harper, Govan Whittles, shouting down the ANC’s electoral Niren Tolsi & Matuma Letsoalo commission on voting regulations that they disagreed with or when NC treasurer general things were not going their way — Zweli Mkhize’s shock as did delegates for Ramaphosa and withdrawal from Dlamini-Zuma. the party’s leader- The electoral commission is A appointed by the ANC from among ship race on Sunday is seen to be a calculated move to its veterans. The commission’s boost the hopes of the slate headed chairperson, Sindiso Mfenyana, said by Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to take their decision on how to conduct control of the party. voting was inspired by the ANC’s It is expected that some of Mkhize’s commitment to do away with slates supporters, specifically those from and strengthen the organisation at KwaZulu-Natal, will now throw their branch level. weight behind her campaign. The proposal was rejected by As Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril branches from KwaZulu-Natal, Ramaphosa officially confirmed their North West and Mpumalanga, acceptance of nomination as presi- U-turn: Outgoing ANC treasurer Zweli Mkhize (below) was heckled by delegates when he told the ANC which said it would be impossible dent of the party, Mkhize took to the national conference that he was withdrawing from the leadership race. Photos: Oupa Nkosi & Delwyn Verasamy to remember the names of 80 addi- stage to announce his withdrawal tional members of the NEC, thus a from the three-way race for the posi- list of names was required. tion of deputy president. It was clear that provinces were Mpumalanga chairperson David doggedly fighting for anything that Mabuza and national executive would help their factions get ahead committee (NEC) member Lindiwe in the battles for delegates’ opinions Sisulu are left to contest the post. and perceptions. The conference NEC member Naledi Pandor had hall in Nasrec was a cauldron of earlier declined nomination for sweat and heated emotions. People deputy president in a move seen to were shouted down, others rose in strengthen Sisulu’s bid. song. The Mail & Guardian has estab- lished that Mkhize — who has been t some point the electoral insisting on unity in the party — commission’s Mfenyane recently met the KwaZulu-Natal Awas heckled by a provincial executive committee KwaZulu-Natal delegate: (declared null and void by the court) “Can you remove that man? That and President Jacob Zuma after man must go! That man must go!” he came under fire from Dlamini- Whenever provinces supporting Zuma’s supporters at the province’s Dlamini-Zuma’s slate won a point, general council meeting last month. they would celebrate by rising, point- Mkhize, who at that stage was still ing to their watches and pointing contesting the presidency, was called their palms up in the air with the an opportunist by ousted KwaZulu- song: “Phakama Nkosazana, ixesha Natal chairperson Sihle Zikalala and lisondele! Unity! Unity Maqabana heckled by delegates. Mkhize appar- [Stand up Nkosazana, your time has ently approached Zuma to complain come! Unity! Unity Comrades]”. about the treatment he received and A decision on carrying a list of can- at a subsequent meeting an agree- didate names into the voting booth ment was secured for him to back was deferred until after the election Dlamini-Zuma. of the ANC’s top six officials, follow- It is understood that the ini- on the Dlamini-Zuma slate for the with the Ramaphosa camp, Mkhize stand on the Dlamini-Zuma slate ing an intervention by Pandor. tial agreement was that he would additional 80 NEC seats. had been offered the position of against ANC Gauteng chairperson But outgoing secretary general stand as national chairperson on Mkhize’s campaigners declined finance minister. Paul Mashatile. Gwede Mantashe told the confer- the Dlamini-Zuma slate, but he was to comment but a source close to NEC member Nomvula Two candidates, Febe Potgieter- ence that the ANC constitution then dropped in favour of Nathi him denied that he had reached an Mokonyane declined nomination Gqubule and Vuyiswa Tulelo, empowered the electoral commis- Mthethwa. It is unclear whether agreement with the Dlamini-Zuma as treasurer, clearing the way for declined nomination as deputy sion to determine the rules of voting Mkhize had agreed to be dropped. faction. International Relations Minister secretary general. The post will be and what is allowed in the voting Mkhize has been offered a position In earlier protracted negotiations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, who will contested by the incumbent, Jesse booth. Duarte, who is on the Dlamini-Zuma Pointing to section 14.1.1 of the slate, and labour federation Cosatu ANC Constitution, and perhaps the second deputy president Zingisa intellectualism of some ANC mem- No changes to the party’s top structure Losi. bers, Mantashe chided: “This, I think, The secretary general’s post will is where we are refusing to read.” Delegates did not want to elevate the management of the ANC. The Nearly 5 000 ANC members have be contested by ousted Free State His remarks were quickly coun- individuals instead of strengthen- counterargument was that it is gathered in Nasrec for the party’s chairperson Ace Magashule and tered by NEC member Tony Yengeni, ing the organisation — that is why not necessary and we should find 54th conference, where it will elect former KwaZulu-Natal chairperson who said the conference was the they voted against a proposal to other ways of strengthening the new leaders and attempt to heal Senzo Mchunu, who is part of the highest decision-making body of the create two ANC deputy president organisation,” Saul told the Mail & divisions in its top structures and Ramaphosa slate. ANC and could ignore the electoral positions, said the ANC’s Northern Guardian. among the rank and file. Addressing the conference ple- commission’s proposals. Cape chairperson Zamani Saul. Three independent sources con- The proposal to create two nary session at which the nomina- “There is no election commission The conference decided that firmed that the amendments were deputy party president positions tions were made, Mkhize said he had or anyone for that matter that can the party’s national leadership rejected, and that the conference came from President Jacob Zuma decided to withdraw in a bid to pre- make us follow a rule. If conference structure should remain the same, decided to keep the national execu- at the ANC policy conference ear- vent further tensions in the party. does not like it, we don’t have to fol- following a debate on proposed tive committee at 80 members. lier this year. The president argued “I have engaged with a number of low the rule,” Yengeni said. constitutional amendments on The proposal to include two dep- that the extra portfolio was needed comrades who want to contribute The other battle is over whether Sunday. uties in the presidency was meant to accommodate the loser in the towards unity of the ANC. I with- delegates will be required to pro- “The argument was that the cur- to accommodate opposing slates in presidential election contest.