Mabuyane ‘avails’ himself for 3rd term

Eastern Cape ANC chairOscar Mabuyanewill avail himself for a third term at the provincial conference scheduled for May, despite speculation that he will be moved to national politics, where he will probably contest the party’s deputy president position. Mabuyane, regarded as a strongman in his province, lost toPaul Mashatileas deputy president at the ANC’s 2022 national elective conference. The Eastern Cape had resolved that Mabuyane be elevated to national level and would demand the deputy president post from any slate wanting to form a working relationship before the 2027 national conference, insiders told theMail & Guardian.

“Abamunike into yakhe uDiya(Let them give Mabuyane his thing),” one source said. ANC secretary generalFikile Mbalula, Mashatile and businessmanPatrice Motsepewere among the names mentioned as possible presidential candidates. Mabuyane downplayed his influence in the province to theM&G, saying no one had approached him to form a working relationship for the 2027 national elections.

He said that if branches had seen him fit to do so at the last conference, there would be no reason for him to refuse to contest the deputy presidency. “No one has brought anything like that to me but the only thing I know is that I was a candidate. I lost last time and I will wait for branches at the right time when the ANC says we can go for lobbying.

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The structures of the ANC will decide and I will be able to make up my mind,” he said. “Right now I am just focused on the work that the ANC has given me — to stabilise the province and consolidate it amid all the challenges that we have.” Last week, a Gauteng provincial task team member told theM&Gthat the Eastern Cape would play a pivotal role in determining who won in 2027, depending on who was able to fulfil what they said was Mabuyane’s demand for the deputy president position. “They (the ANC in the Eastern Cape) come in huge numbers and KZN is not significant anymore because there are no existing structures there,” they said. With branch nominations having begun in the Eastern Cape this week, Mabuyane confirmed that he would be willing to stand for a third term as provincial chair if he was nominated for the position he had occupied since 2017, when he defeated Phumulo Masualle.

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