Johannesburg - KZN delegates were left speechless and dumbfounded following the announcement of the ANC’s new leadership at the 55th National Conference in Nasrec.
The province that sang and danced the most before the voting process went home empty-handed after it also failed to deliver Mdumiseni Ntuli, who had contested for the position of secretary-general.
Before the announcement, they tried to project a solid front; however, on Monday, the province was not as jovial as it had been at the start of the conference.
As the electoral committee’s chairperson, Kgalema Motlanthe, outlined the voting process before the announcement, it was clear they had lost their mojo and their choice in Dr Zweli Mkhize KZN would not be victorious.
With 2 178 votes, Paul Mashatile was announced as ANC deputy president ahead of Oscar Mabuyane’s 315 and Ronald Lamola’s 1858.
The position of ANC chairperson saw Gwede Mantashe retain his position, while for treasurer-general, Gwen Ramakgopa beat the likes of Pule Mabe, Mzwandile Masina and Bejani Chauke.
Mashatile’s previous position as treasurer-general was taken by Fikile Mbalula, with Nomvula Mokonyane taking the first deputy secretary-general position and the second deputy secretary position going to Maropele Ramakgopa.
While delegates who openly supported Ramaphosa ululated, sang and chanted in celebration of the results, those from KZN sat stone-faced, while others simply walked out of the plenary session in silence.
One delegate from the province said the journey back home would be sombre, adding their mandate was to bring in a new leader of the party in the form of Dr Zweli Mkhize whose 1 897 votes were not enough to offset Ramaphosa’s 2 476 votes.
Ramaphosa emerged victorious, winning by 579 votes.
Before the elections, the KZN sang the loudest in the hope of a Mkhize and Mdumiseni Ntuli’s election to the top seven leadership, but the province will be returning empty-handed following a clean sweep by the Ramaphosa faction in the top structure of the ruling party.
Another KZN delegate said the votes were rigged, adding the reason for the loss was the buying of votes through delegates.
“These elections were bought. It is not just the numbers that were not enough, but it is the work of the buying of votes. Thina we knew our story and we stuck to our mandate, but other provinces allowed themselves to be bought,” this delegate told The Star.
The Star