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Cyril Ramaphosa

JOHANNESBURG. – The ANC has slammed presidential hopeful Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa for pronouncing on his preferred leaders for the party’s top six positions ahead of the December elective conference. The party, in a statement, said it “noted with concern reports of statements made by leaders pronouncing on a line-up of comrades to be elected as officials”.

This was after Ramaphosa announced his running mates in Ga-Sekhukhune, Limpopo, over the weekend. He told crowds at a #CR17 rally to support national executive committee (NEC) member Naledi Pandor as the next ANC deputy president, former KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Senzo Mchunu as secretary -general, and the current secretary- general Gwede Mantashe as the next ANC chairperson. Ramaphosa also named Gauteng chairperson Paul Mashatile as his preference for the post of treasurer- general.

“The ANC . . . calls on all its leaders and members to desist from the practice of pronouncing on and circulating slates which may be seen to undermine the branches’ inalienable right to select candidates best placed to implement the national democratic revolution,” said the party in a statement yesterday. Ramaphosa has since released a statement saying he notes the criticism on his pronouncement of preferred candidates.

“I see these views in a positive light as a process of enriching and deepening out internal processes and promotion of unity in the ANC,” said Ramaphosa. He, however, has defended his actions, saying they were based on interactions and nominations emerging from ANC structures and should be understood in that context. ANC branches are currently holding general meetings to nominate candidates to take over when President Jacob Zuma and his NEC step down in a few weeks. The ANC also reminded its presidential hopefuls of the role of branches in the process of electing new leadership

“The 2015 national general council resolved to outlaw slates and reaffirm the role of the branch as the basic unit of the ANC,” said the party in the statement. Some people, who are close to the deputy president, have criticised him for pronouncing on Pandor. An insider said that Pandor’s age could be a great disadvantage against her. While Ramaphosa, in a statement, said: “The views expressed are no means a prescriptive and do not displace the right of branches to nominate their preferred candidates for any position of leadership.” He also vowed to respect the will and choices of leadership as expressed by branches of the party. – News24.