POWERFUL ANC provincial leaders, in their quest to be elevated to national politics, are jostling for positions in the party's top six.
While the focus has been on the presidential race the provincial leaders are allegedly active in desperate behind the scenes campaigns to secure key positions for themselves.
Since the opening of nominations at the beginning of the month, provincial leaders - Zweli Mkhize of KwaZulu-Natal, Paul Mashatile of Gauteng and Ace Magashule of the Free State - have been nominated as either national chairman or treasurer general. It is also expected that lobby groups in Mpumalanga will nominate provincial chairman David Mabuza as national chairman.
Gauteng branches, which are pushing for President Jacob Zuma to be replaced by his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, also nominated Mashatile to take over as national treasurer.
Some branches in KwaZulu-Natal have also nominated Mkhize as national treasurer. The position of treasurer is a full-time position and would mean any provincial leader who is elected to that position will have to vacate his provincial responsibilities.
But a KwaZulu-Natal leader told Sowetanit would be difficult to move Mkhize to national politics as he will be key to the 2014 election.
Another new development in Zuma's home province is that former police commissioner Bheki Cele's star seems to be rising. He has been nominated by several branches to take over as national chairman from Baleka Mbete.
"This is turning into something of a disaster for Zuma's backers, who were convinced the entire province would back him for a second term. They are now at each other's throats - that is what is causing the rise in killings," a source close to those who want Zuma out revealed.
Gauteng also wants most of its provincial leaders to be elected to the organisation's national executive committee.
The Free State cannot agree on the final slate, with some of those who want a second term for Zuma lobbying for current national chairman Mbete to take over as deputy president.
They aim to push for Magashule to be chairman, while in Limpopo, a group pushing for Zuma to be retained, wants Ngoako Ramathlodi as treasurer general.
Scramble for top posts on
POWERFUL ANC provincial leaders, in their quest to be elevated to national politics, are jostling for positions in the party's top six.
While the focus has been on the presidential race the provincial leaders are allegedly active in desperate behind the scenes campaigns to secure key positions for themselves.
Since the opening of nominations at the beginning of the month, provincial leaders - Zweli Mkhize of KwaZulu-Natal, Paul Mashatile of Gauteng and Ace Magashule of the Free State - have been nominated as either national chairman or treasurer general. It is also expected that lobby groups in Mpumalanga will nominate provincial chairman David Mabuza as national chairman.
Gauteng branches, which are pushing for President Jacob Zuma to be replaced by his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, also nominated Mashatile to take over as national treasurer.
Some branches in KwaZulu-Natal have also nominated Mkhize as national treasurer. The position of treasurer is a full-time position and would mean any provincial leader who is elected to that position will have to vacate his provincial responsibilities.
But a KwaZulu-Natal leader told Sowetanit would be difficult to move Mkhize to national politics as he will be key to the 2014 election.
Another new development in Zuma's home province is that former police commissioner Bheki Cele's star seems to be rising. He has been nominated by several branches to take over as national chairman from Baleka Mbete.
"This is turning into something of a disaster for Zuma's backers, who were convinced the entire province would back him for a second term. They are now at each other's throats - that is what is causing the rise in killings," a source close to those who want Zuma out revealed.
Gauteng also wants most of its provincial leaders to be elected to the organisation's national executive committee.
The Free State cannot agree on the final slate, with some of those who want a second term for Zuma lobbying for current national chairman Mbete to take over as deputy president.
They aim to push for Magashule to be chairman, while in Limpopo, a group pushing for Zuma to be retained, wants Ngoako Ramathlodi as treasurer general.
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