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SUPPORT: Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe is the Gauteng ANC's preferred candidate to challenge President Jacob Zuma for the party's top position. Photo: gcis

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While Motlanthe has played his cards close to his chest, much to the irritation of some within the party, the Gauteng ANC seems to have made up its mind about who it wants to succeed Zuma when the governing party convenes its elective congress in Mangaung, Free State.

In his welcoming remarks yesterday to provincial, regional and branch executive committee members, Gauteng ANC chairman and Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile showed the province's hand when he stopped short of calling for Motlanthe to accept the province's support.

He was speaking at a graduation ceremony of the party's Walter Sisulu leadership academy at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto campus.

Mashatile is himself believed to be part of the effort to force a leadership change that could see him occupying the ANC national chairman's position.

"We must come out of Mangaung with a renewed ANC," Mashatile said to loud cheers from the audience.

"The renewal of the organisation must include the renewal of the leadership. We must be led by a strong and renewed leadership.

"We must reject those who go around lobbying our branches for people we don't know of," Mashatile said.

He twice referred to Motlanthe as "the son of Gauteng" and "our leader". He then led delegates into singing: " Ho ya rona ba pelo tse thata ko pele. E reng magwala a tjhetjhele morago, ho ya rona ba pelo tse thata ko pele " (We, who are brave, are moving forward. Let the cowards remain behind, we the brave ones are moving forward).

Mashatile also called for regions to assess Zuma's leadership ahead of the October deadline when branches will officially nominate their preferred candidates.

So far, the Greater Johannesburg region- the biggest and most influential in the province - is said to have given Zuma's leadership the thumbs down.

Spokesman Dumisa Ntuli told Sowetan that the remaining regions would soon assess the leadership but would not confirm when this process would get under way.

Those attending yesterday's proceedings with the hope that Motlanthe would finally give an indication of his intention to challenge Zuma for the ANC leadership left disappointed.

Motlanthe again stayed away from the succession battle, choosing instead, to warn guests about the dangers posed to the ANC by its own members.

"As a ruling party the ANC is no longer faced with the challenges it confronted during the era of the liberation struggle.

"Whereas in the past joining the struggle was a risky affair that entailed risking one's life for a cause, today joining the ANC potentially holds out benefits and rewards," he said.

"As cadres of the movement we should not be caught with our fingers in the till. It gives the ANC a bad name and depicts it as an organisation overrun with greed, corruption, venality and loose morals.

"This perception goes against the stated principles and values we stand for and diminishes our public image.

"History shows that even the most glorious liberation movements driven by the best interests of humanity are not impervious to the corrosive influence of material benefits that come with incumbency."

Motlanthe's sentiments were echoed by Mashatile who pointed out that information about corrupt members' exploits was easily accessible to the people and that an informed citizenry would prove troublesome to the ANC.

"We realised we had been recruiting a lot of people who were not trained in the political theory of the ANC. That is dangerous," Mashatile said.

"Access to information is widespread and the ANC is facing a public that is able to engage [the party] robustly.

"The ANC must modernise." - molatlhwao@sowetan.co.za

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 02:53:47 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 13, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Ok where did Paul say Mothlanthe for President??? SOWETAN mara why you sensationalize things Mxim!!!
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Aug 13, 2012

Sinudeity_

Hehe, the ANC is busy dying.
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Aug 13, 2012

Ntebaleng

It is very correct, the stalinist tendencies in the ANC must be done away with, the dogmatism of silencing the dissenting voices must be done away with if we are to get the ANC on track. Gauteng as the light in the ANC will persuade others for leadership change and that has to happen and the menace called JZ must give way and concentrate on Nkandlaville.

I know the PARTY seems to be convinced on maintaining the status quo but now i think we need the ANCWL to advocate for change in leadership and all will be done. The sabotage of of the OR Tambo branch elction is prove of how dogmatic the Zuma camp is trying by hook or crook to get the " YES SIRS" to Mangaung to endorse himn for the second term.. Blade must also get a wake up call he does not need JZ as the ANC for survival in the cabinet, his praise singing of JZ will do him a disservice as it is JZ who is divisive in the NDM.
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Aug 13, 2012

candilious

@Sin -Morning ........lol its really sad hey
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Aug 13, 2012

Secretary

Nkandla President must close the door on his way out.
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Aug 13, 2012

Ntebaleng

Mangosuthu build his Kingdom in Ulundi now JZ is busy with Nkandlavile, he will also be trying to the kingship from Zwelithini. JZ like Mangosuthu is already everything that the King should be initiating and doing and he is doing it in the guise that it is the government that doing it. This weekend he was already unvailing tombsones that were to be unveiled by the monarch, the monarch was only invited as a guest including uMtwanakaphindangene. How low of JZ.
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Aug 13, 2012

Maqhankqa

This Kgalema guy is playing a Mr nice guy to everyone. Don't be a coward man just take a stand and raise your hand. You keep on speaking in parables.
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Aug 13, 2012

Deepstick-C

Please, can we speed this up? another term for The Spear will see looting and more looting of our tax money. We need a leader who will put interest of the citizens first than otherwise
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Aug 13, 2012

MommaC

All Credit-Card-Paul wants is a chance to visit fancy restaurants on our tax again.

Same story every year but it always turns out to be hot air
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Aug 13, 2012

DJWinner

Mothlante is himself a Zuma fan. I don't see him taking on Zuma. Anyway, KZN, EC and FS support Zuma. This is an enough support for Zuma to see a second term in our lifetime. We don't care what Gauteng wish for...
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