Eastern Cape ANC secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi has rescinded his resignation after intense talks with party chairperson Gwede Mantashe and secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.
TimesLIVE understands Ngcukayitobi had formally submitted his resignation to provincial officials last week after it emerged the party planned to form a government of national unity with the DA.
Ngcukayitobi is one of the provincial leaders who have been opposed to a coalition with the DA.
He was supported by the provincial executive committee (PEC) during its special meeting last week after the election results were announced.
The province had called a PEC meeting to finalise its list of premier candidates to be submitted to national officials for interviews and vetting.
According to insiders, it took calls from ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and party chairperson Gwede Mantashe to convince the provincial leader to withdraw his resignation.
Ngcukayitobi's relationship with provincial ANC chairperson Oscar Mabuyane has deteriorated after provincial elections in 2022.
Once allies, the two leaders have been at opposite ends of factions aiming to emerge in the 2027 party elections.
Mabuyane's allies previously accused Ngcukayitobi's circle of manipulating processes when the provincial chair appeared at number five in the ANC's provincial list.
According to insiders, it took calls from Mbalula and Mantashe to convince the provincial leader to withdraw his resignation.
The insiders said Ngcukayitobi's resignation had been accepted by provincial officials after failed attempts to convince him to stay. But they said the ANC leaders told Ngcukayitobi it would send a bad message to party members in the province if he resigned during its hour of need.
The ANC lost its majority in the national elections after governing for 30 years. In the Eastern Cape, it retained its position as the governing party.
On Monday evening, the Eastern Cape ANC said Ngcukayitobi withdrew his resignation after deliberations with provincial officials.
The party said the withdrawal of the resignation was a step to ensure it remains stable, united and focused on the immediate task for all officials to usher in the new seventh administration and consolidate the process of the ANC's renewal.
"The provincial officials are fully focused and seized with leading the entire PEC collective in ensuring the ANC, as the strategic centre of power and leader of society, provides the required leadership to the ANC structures, government and society at large for acceleration towards a better life for all," it said.
The ANC said it considered the matter closed, adding no further public commentary will be provided or queries entertained on the matter.
During an interview with TimesLIVE last week, Ngcukayitobi said whatever discussions the ANC was holding, it must always keep in mind its strategic objective is to take the working class out of its conditions.
He said: “The NEC must have considerations about the position of the entire working class as part of the primary motive forces as it discusses matters of national government.”
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