South Africa ruling ANC party starts elective conference

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Thousands of delegates belonging to South Africa’s governing African National Congress party (ANC) have gathered in Johannesburg for the start of its national elective conference.

The conference held every five years starts Friday and will end on Tuesday with elections of the party’s National Executive Committee.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, 70, who survived impeachment over corruption allegations this week, is seeking a second term as party President.

Ramaphosa faces his former health Minister Zweli Mkhize, 65, in the race. Mkhize resigned nearly two years ago due to allegations of embezzling public funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both men have their names tainted by corruption allegations. Last month, an independent panel released a report that found Ramaphosa guilty of not reporting the theft of between $ 580,000 to $4 million at his private farm in the Limpopo province in 2020.

Opposition lawmakers sponsored a motion in parliament this week, seeking to start an impeachment process against Ramaphosa following the report, but their motion was defeated in a vote.

Two hundred and fourteen lawmakers voted against the impeachment motion, while 148 supported the motion, with 2 abstaining.

Commentators believe despite stiff competition and Ramaphosa’s name being tainted by corruption allegations, he will emerge victorious at the end of the conference on Tuesday.

Paul Mashatile, 61, an outgoing party treasurer, will challenge current deputy president David Mabuza for the party’s Deputy Presidents position.