Pro and anti factions jostle for NEC places

FORMER Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni seems guaranteed to be elected back on to the ANC's national executive committee after being nominated by both factions competing for dominance at the party conference.

Mboweni, party veterans Pallo Jordan and Joel Netshitenze, and former army general Siphiwe Nyanda, are among a few ANC leaders whose names appear on the election slate of supporters of both President Jacob Zuma and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Others likely to be elected, regardless of whether Motlanthe or Zuma wins, are former police chief Bheki Cele and ex-ANC Youth League official Febe Potgieter-Gqubule.

Should Zuma retain his post, the NEC looks set to be dominated by cabinet members.

Pro-Zuma provinces have nominated ministers who are not in the current NEC, including Pravin Gordhan, Siyabonga Cwele and Rob Davies.

KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga also want cabinet ministers such as Nathi Mthethwa, Malusi Gigaba, Trevor Manuel, Blade Nzimande, Angie Motshekga, Bathabile Dlamini, Susan Shabangu, Naledi Pandor, Aaron Motsoaledi and Lindiwe Sisulu to be re-elected.

Deputies ministers Jeremy Cronin, Thandi Tobias, Ayanda Dlodlo, Rejoice Mabudhafasi, Ebrahim Ebrahim, Joe Phaahla, and Ngoako Ramathlodi have also been nominated.

Those who campaigned for Zuma's re-election, such as his former spokesman, Zizi Kodwa, Cosatu president S'dumo Dlamini, Limpopo education MEC Dickson Masemola and Free State MEC for social development Sisi Ntombela, will also be rewarded by inclusion in the NEC.

If supporters of Motlanthe win, leading figures in former president Thabo Mbeki's inner circle could find their way back into the NEC. They include Makhenkesi Stofile, Thoko Didiza, Valli Moosa, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, her husband Jabu and Frank Chikane.

The Zuma group shunned struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and convicted fraudster Tony Yengeni but Motlanthe's supporters want them back in the NEC.

Motlanthe's supporters are also backing trade unionists who have been critical of Zuma, including Irvin Jim and Thobile Ntola.

They also favour former ANC Youth League leaders Lulu Johnson and Vuyelwa Tulelo.

Other names who appear on both lists include Speaker of parliament Max Sisulu, Thandi Tobias-Pokolo, Bathabile Dlamini, Sbu Ndebele and Tina Joemat-Pettersson.

Interesting names that appear on the lists of the pro-Zuma provinces include KZN legislature speaker Peggy Nkonyeni, Humphrey Mmemezi, Pam Tshwete, wife of late safety and security minister Steve Tshwete, Free State premier Ace Magashule and Lindiwe Zulu.

Names that appear on the pro-Motlanthe list include Gauteng premier Paul Mashatile, Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale, John Block, Nkenke Kekana, Andile Lungisa, Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus, Senzo Mchunu, Nomsa Dube and youth league NEC members Magdalene Moonsamy and Maropene Ntuli.