Mkhize raises his hand for ANC president

Former health minister and ANC NEC member Dr Zweli Mkhize has formally raised his hand to challenge for the position of ANC president at the party’s 55th National Conference.

Mkhize, who has been receiving a lot of support from the ANC branches in his home province of KZN, recently took to social media where he declared his availability to challenge current ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa.

Last month, KwaZulu-Natal one of the biggest provinces with more than 8000 voting delegates to the ANC conference, nominated Mkhize as its candidate to challenge Ramaphosa.

Mkhize said he had been humbled by the confidence of some of the branches who nominated him to challenge the ANC president position.

“My branch (Ward 14) has joined numerous other branches across the country in nominating me for the position of ANC president. I am humbled by the confidence shown in me and confirm that I am available to serve the movement that I have dedicated my life to since the day I was recruited into its political and military underground structures back in 1978,” Mkhize said at the weekend.

Speaking to The Star following this statement, ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said members of the ANC who wished to stand up for elections ahead of the conference were welcome to campaign openly for those positions as the nominations process was already under way.

“Why should we react. It is campaign season and cadres of the ANC are welcome to avail themselves and campaign for themselves because the campaign season has started. We welcome everyone whether it is Zweli Mkhize or someone else as long as they are doing so within the confines of the nomination guidelines. We encourage them to go out there and campaign,” Mabe said.

Mabe said the guidelines were clear on who qualified to stand for nomination. Mkhize, who resigned as minister of health in 2021 after allegations of corruption were levelled against him, could still be charged which might mean an end to his ambition to challenge Ramaphosa in December. According to the guidelines, no leader should be nominated if they are being investigated.

“The guidelines are clear on who qualifies for nomination. For now all those who are available can stand for positions. The branches should be empowered to nominate their candidates but they should do so with a clear mind of the guidelines,” he said.

Mkhize, who resigned as minister of health in 2021 following reports that a company close to him Digital Vibes, benefited from the PPE tender urged branches to elect credible leaders.

“I urge you to use the period between now and the official closure of the nomination process to elect delegates who will ensure that we do not betray the ANC’s historical mission to liberate blacks in general, and Africans in particular from not only political slavery, but economic slavery as well,” he said.

Mkhize said the upcoming elective conference of the ANC would serve as a watershed moment which should be used to revive the party that had been battling a series of challenges in the past five years.

“The 55th National Conference will be more of a watershed moment than the conferences of Morogoro and Gamwe. The very existence of our movement as a revolutionary tool of improving the quality of lives of our people is under threat. Our window of opportunity to correct the mistakes of the past and re-energise our movement is rapidly closing. We cannot afford another five years of deeply factionalised directionless leadership.

“We must act decisively to save the ANC,” he said.

Mkhize added that the country’s economy had been dealt a big blow by the Eskom electricity crisis which has seen the country being plunged into stage 6 load shedding in recent weeks.

“Load shedding has brought our country’s economy to its knees, worsening our country’s severe unemployment crisis and driving millions of our people to grinding poverty and despair. Poverty is the mother of numerous social ills such as drug abuse and violent crimes which have been spreading unabatedly in our country in the past few years. Poverty of leadership in dealing with these ills is continuing to condemn our people to a life of misery and indignity,” Mkhize added.