President Jacob Zuma yesterday extended an olive branch to his detractors, proposing that a losing presidential candidate in December automatically become deputy president.
Zuma made the plea at the end of the national policy conference where his group was strongly challenged by deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa's supporters which resulted in many proxy battles being referred back to the branches.
But it appeared that Zuma's compromise proposals were not popular as some delegates jeered. In his closing address, Zuma emphasised that members needed to find a mature way to deal with contestation for positions.
"We have experienced in the past that the winner takes all. This is not in the best interest of the ANC. We have lost many talented comrades due to slate politics. A proposal has been made that members encourage lobbying that will allow a unifying outcome," Zuma said.
Ramaphosa says ANC will emerge with a united front on policies
The president hinted that he backs former African Union Commission head Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to succeed him, saying she was ready to lead the party. He rejected suggestions that it was ANC culture that the deputy president succeed the president.
Dlamnini-Zuma was regarded as the frontrunner coming to the conference, but developments over the past five days indicate the race could be a very close contest.
The proposal to have the losing candidate become deputy president was first proposed by Dlamini-Zuma's staunch backers in KwaZulu-Natal. Insiders say this was prompted by the realisation that her faction was not as dominant as it had thought coming to the conference.
Zuma also supported the amendment of the ANC's constitution to create the positions of two deputy presidents and a second deputy secretary-general. This proposal enjoys support among Ramaphosa's backers. Zuma said such amendments would allow losing candidates to be accommodated to avoid further divisions and a potential split.
"Factions are not good for the ANC and therefore not good for the country. The challenge we face is how can we get rid of the factions," said Zuma.
For the first time Zuma spoke about the experience of the Polokwane conference where he was elected president and those who supported former president Thabo Mbeki left the party to form the Congress of the People.
‘It is "white" monopoly capital': Jacob Zuma closes #ANCPolicy conference
Zuma pleads for poll compromise - calls for two deputies
President Jacob Zuma yesterday extended an olive branch to his detractors, proposing that a losing presidential candidate in December automatically become deputy president.
Zuma made the plea at the end of the national policy conference where his group was strongly challenged by deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa's supporters which resulted in many proxy battles being referred back to the branches.
But it appeared that Zuma's compromise proposals were not popular as some delegates jeered. In his closing address, Zuma emphasised that members needed to find a mature way to deal with contestation for positions.
"We have experienced in the past that the winner takes all. This is not in the best interest of the ANC. We have lost many talented comrades due to slate politics. A proposal has been made that members encourage lobbying that will allow a unifying outcome," Zuma said.
Ramaphosa says ANC will emerge with a united front on policies
The president hinted that he backs former African Union Commission head Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to succeed him, saying she was ready to lead the party. He rejected suggestions that it was ANC culture that the deputy president succeed the president.
Dlamnini-Zuma was regarded as the frontrunner coming to the conference, but developments over the past five days indicate the race could be a very close contest.
The proposal to have the losing candidate become deputy president was first proposed by Dlamini-Zuma's staunch backers in KwaZulu-Natal. Insiders say this was prompted by the realisation that her faction was not as dominant as it had thought coming to the conference.
Zuma also supported the amendment of the ANC's constitution to create the positions of two deputy presidents and a second deputy secretary-general. This proposal enjoys support among Ramaphosa's backers. Zuma said such amendments would allow losing candidates to be accommodated to avoid further divisions and a potential split.
"Factions are not good for the ANC and therefore not good for the country. The challenge we face is how can we get rid of the factions," said Zuma.
For the first time Zuma spoke about the experience of the Polokwane conference where he was elected president and those who supported former president Thabo Mbeki left the party to form the Congress of the People.
‘It is "white" monopoly capital': Jacob Zuma closes #ANCPolicy conference
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