JACOB ZUMA POISED TO LEAD ANC FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS

The elective conference of the ruling ANC in South Africa is continuing in the town of Manguang under very strict security, extra security personnel, hundreds of police and security cameras. This follows the arrest of about seven right-wingers who the police allege had planned to blow up the main tent and disrupt the conference. But despite the security concerns, the more than 4 500 delegates are in a excited and spirited mood. They will vote in the top six leaders of the ruling party and also draft and adopt policies to promote peace and prosperity for all South Africans.

The nominations for the top six positions were concluded on Monday and judging from the reaction of most delegates it appears President Jacob Zuma will trounce his Deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, for the president's position. When the election officer announced the name of Motlanthe for the top position, there was a muted response but when he announced the name of Zuma there was a thunderous applause from the delegates. This was a clear demonstratation that Zuma will have no hassles against Motlanthe.

There was a similar response when the election officer announced the names of the candidates for the deputy president's position. Business tycoon and former secretary general of the party, Cyril Ramaphosa, attracted the loudest applause when his name was announced along with Tokyo Sexwale, Mathew Phosa and Motlanthe.

Motlanthe withdrew his name from the floor for this post after judging the reaction of the delegates.

Gwede Mantashe also received a loud applause when his name was announced for the position of secretary general along with Fikile Mbalula.

Former ANC spokesperson, Jesse Duarte, will become the new assistant secretary general after Thandi Modise withdrew her name for the position.

The treasurer general's position will go to KZN Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize, after Tokyo Sexwale announced that "I don't know how to count money and, therefore, I want to step down".

The other top six position of national chairperson will be fought by incumbent Baleka Mbete and Thandi Modise. It seems that Mbete will also be returned to her position judging from the applause she received when her name was announced.

Most of the delegates, supporting Zuma and Ramaphosa, say they believe the two leaders would introduce economic and other policies that would overcome the acute unemployment problem and create a better life for the people.

"The ANC where it is now it has been in a position to acknowledge some kind of challenges in terms of our economic policies," said one delegate from Gauteng.

"But of course we want to see the ANC come of out of this conference united on the question of policies".

A delegate from Limpopo who also asked not to be named said: "There has to be economic transformation and there is the process and there is a way the ANC would like it to see it going."

One delegate from KwaZulu-Natal, who said he was a firm supporter of Zuma, said: "We have long taken a resolution in the ANC around issues of nationalisation but not specifically on mines there are so many things that need to be nationalised. What we are saying is that let's find each other, let it be a process and there are no effects and after effects after that."

Most of the delegates who have gathered here say they support Zuma in his promise to get 30 percent of the land transfered to the black majority within the next few years.

The next few days will demonstrate whether the delegates will take the decisions to correct the socio-economic imbalances facing the country.