Mail & Guardian reported that the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting this weekend is expected to heat up as the ruling party will be discussing its poor performance in the local government elections.
The NEC is also reportedly likely to discuss the future leadership of the party.
According to the paper, there are two factions in the ANC: One is rooting for Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the next president, with Gigaba as her deputy and Mbalula as secretary general replacing Gwede Mantashe.
The other faction is the famous ‘premier league’ which consists of President Jacob Zuma’s supporters, Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza, North West premier Supra Mahumapelo and Free State premier Ace Magashule.
This faction is rooting for Mabuza as deputy president and Magashule as ANC chairperson.
Mbalula, who is currently attending the Olympics in Rio, Brazil, said that he has no idea where the Mail & Guardian reports emerge from and that he could not comment on them.
“I can’t speak about that, I’m in Rio and I haven’t seen the report,” he told Sowetan LIVE.
“Even if you explain explain to me, I don’t know where they [reports] come from.”
Mantashe confirmed that the NEC will be discussing the election results that have seen a decline in the ruling party’s support base, ultimately putting the party in a position where it is at risk of losing four metros.
Only coalitions in Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay will see ANC continue to govern the metros.
The ruling party’s support in these metros declined aggressively. The ANC needs 51% to govern the metros outright, which they could not get at the polls.
“We will look at all those statistics and what are implications of those results‚” said Mantashe‚ speaking ahead of the meeting which is being held in Irene outside Pretoria.
“We will check‚ are we in decline and is it a trend that will continue forever‚ and what should we do to arrest that trend and turn it around.”
