ANC ELECTION COMMISSION REVEALS NOTHING NEW

By Subry Govender
　

The ANC Election Commission had failed to give any new information on the candidates contesting the leadership positions when it addressed a packed media briefing at the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg on Thursday morning.

Most of the journalists at the conference expected the Commission members to announce the names of the candidates, especially whether Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe, had accepted his nomination to oppose President Jacob Zuma for the top president's position of the ANC.

But instead the spokespersons, including veteran struggle stalwart Dr Frene Ginwala, could only say that the names of the candidates would be released on the day of the election at the conference in Manguang next week.

"We cannot reveal the names of the candidates before the branches are informed," said Dr Ginwala.

She said the ANC electiopns process was designed to give ANC members and branches the ultimate voice in the election of their leadership.

"The ANC's 53rd National Conference is a watershed conference as it marks the end of a century of a fighting People's Movemnet and the beginning of yet another crucial period of struggle."

She also noted the appetite of the media to predict the outcome of the elections.

"As the EC we do not make predetermined decisions or predictions about the outcome of the elections. We do not view the outcome of any of the phases mentioned above as constituting the success or failure of any candidate in the elections process.

"The ultimate determination of the success in the elections is the voting that will take place at our conference in Manguang. Only after delegates have voted will the votes be counted and the successful candidates announced."

After the journalists persisted with their questions about the candidates, another  spokesperson pointed out that the ANC did not have any qualms about those who have been nominated to disclose to the media whether they have accepted their nominations or not.

The only news worthy item to emerge from the conference was when a journalist asked whether the ANC elective conference would be postponed if the health situation of former President Nelson Mandela deteriorated.

Responding, one of the spokespersons said it was very sad and impolite for such a question to be posed. Nevertheless, he said the ANC National Executive Committee was the only body that would pronounce on such issues.

Only hours after the media briefing ended, the spokesperson for Motlanthe confirmed that the Deputy President had accepted nominations for three positions - President, Deputy President and senior official.

The Motlanthe announcement now means that there would be two groups contesting the leadership of the ANC. The one slate is headed by President Jacob Zuma and the other by Motlanthe.

Although Zuma has the support of six of the nine provinces, it's not a given that he will emerge victorious to retain his position. Motlanthe has a lot of hidden support even in the provinces where Zuma has been nominated and this may be the surprise factor at the conference.

In the final analysis, the leaders who are successful must adopt policy decisions that will tackle the serious unemployment situation, poverty, inequality, runaway corruption, and the deterioration of the public health and education services.

The ANC prides itself in claiming that it's the only political movement that promotes the interests of all South Africans - irrespective of race, colour, creeed, or ethnicity.