Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane could find herself on the back benches of the Gauteng legislature after she was placed 11th on the provincial list. She is definitely not returning as premier – the ANC decided not to recommend her to thepresident. Naturally, others are leaving to make room for younger MPs. Those struggle stalwarts include Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, Andrew Mlangeni and Ben Turok, who was regarded as one of the party’s voices of reason and morality, especially after his decision to abstain from voting on the secrecy bill and his decision to sanction disgraced former communications minister Dina Pule. The stalwarts who remain are Winnie Madikizela- Mandela, Max Sisulu, Pallo Jordan and President Jacob Zuma, who are the only leaders over the age of 70. The interesting young leaders to watch – apart from Malusi Gigaba and Fikile Mbalula – include Zizi Kodwa, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Buti Manamela and Pule Mabe, whose star seems to be rising in the party and alliance. Along with others on the list, they represent what the ANC Youth League used to refer to as “generational mix”. It is interesting that two serving Cosatu leaders, Senzeni Zokwana and Fikile Majola, feature high on the list. This means Zokwana has to vacate his position as the president of the embattled National Union of Mineworkers and that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union will have to replace Majola in the full-time position of general secretary he has held for nearly 10 years. They leave the union federation as it faces a crisis that has split it down the middle. ANC national executive committee (NEC) members dominate the National Assembly list, especially in top positions. In total, 59 of the 80 NEC members made the list. It excludes people like former national police boss Bheki Cele and Gauteng party chairperson Paul Mashatile, who are on regional lists that make up Parliament’s upper house, the national council of provinces. This is a double-edged sword. It means Zuma will be spoilt for choice when he picks his next Cabinet but he may have too many party allies who feel alienated in lesser positions in Parliament. It won’t be long before the trouble begins. , citypress.co.za
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 16:15:33 +0000
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