Olwethu Xabanisa
The ANC's Eastern Cape provincial chairperson, Oscar Mabuyane, says anyone who is serious about the country, or serious about the future of South Africa should not look further than a person like President Cyril Ramaphosa.
He was speaking on Monday after being re-elected to the position for a second term, seeing off contender, Babalo Madikizela in the leadership race at the ANC's 9th Provincial Conference at the East London ICC.
The conference drew to a close on Monday after being extended due to disputes over credentials, which led to delays in deliberations and voting only proceeding on Sunday evening.
Mabuyane was elected Provincial Chairperson, seeing off Madikizela by 812 votes to 662 votes.
The rest of the top five are the new Deputy Chairperson, Mlungisi Mvoko, Lulama Ngcukayitobi, is the new party secretary with Helen Sauls August the new deputy secretary. Zolile Williams is the new treasurer.
Answering questions at a media briefing, Mabuyane said he believes that the people of the Eastern Cape would like to see Ramaphosa, going forward as the President of the ANC and the country following the party's elective conference later this year.
"Surely, anyone who is serious about the country, anyone who is serious about the future of our people, you can't think far from a person like President Cyril Ramaphosa. I can tell you it's not a question of us trying to be relevant or campaign, it's a question of principle," Mabuyane said.
"We need leadership that must lead government effectively so people can understand that we are clear on our developmental agenda," he added.
Meanwhile, Madikizela was magnanimous in defeat, telling Algoa FM News that "all we have to do is support the leadership elected." He congratulated Mabuyane and his new team, saying that the group that opposed him during the conference are committing to support and subject themselves to their leadership.
Delivering the conference closing remarks, President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated the delegates for conducting themselves peacefully, following the chair-throwing chaos that marked the 2017 conference.
"I congratulate you on the way that you conducted this conference, the way as delegates you have been so disciplined, it was really revolutionary discipline," he said.
Ramaphosa said the ANC needed to continue moving forward into "renewing and rebuilding" the movement, adding that 2022 is the year of conferences and the year the congress movement needs to be united and renewed.
