President Cyril Ramaphosa's chief lieutenants thwarted plans to embarrass him at yesterday's ANC birthday celebrations in Durban by convincing regional leaders in KwaZulu-Natal to not participate in planned disruptions.
Senior ANC leaders spent at least two weeks in KwaZulu-Natal talking directly to regional leaders in areas considered hostile to the president.
As part of the strategy, former president Jacob Zuma was roped into events leading to yesterday's rally to neutralise those who wanted to use his name to humiliate Ramaphosa.
The president's backers were acting on information that some of Zuma's supporters were planning to disrupt events where Ramaphosa was scheduled to speak, including yesterday's event.
A provincial leader, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said an intelligence report had been commissioned on the political instability and possible hostility towards Ramaphosa in the province, but found that it could be easily overcome.
KwaZulu-Natal ANC Youth League chair Kwazi Mshengu told Ramaphosa on Wednesday that "the enemy" wanted ANC supporters to boo him.
Mshengu told the Sunday Times the enemy he was talking about included pro-Zuma formations such as the Mazibuye African Congress and the African Transformation Movement.
The strategy to talk directly to regional leaders appears to have worked. The party filled the 85,000-seat stadium to capacity.
Ramaphosa, accompanied by other national officials and provincial chair Sihle Zikalala, received a warm welcome when he entered the stadium.
But it was Zuma who received the loudest cheers from the crowd.
Yesterday's incident-free rally is considered a victory by Ramaphosa's backers as KwaZulu-Natal is seen as a Zuma stronghold.
ANC chief whip and national executive committee (NEC) member Jackson Mthembu confirmed holding meetings with regional leaders. He said ANC NEC members arrived in the province on January 4.
"We came here immediately after the new year. From the 4th we've been here until today. Accompanied by the provincial leadership we met leaders of the ANC from regional level, branch level and ward level."
Mthembu said they were concerned about two regions where there was leadership instability, namely Moses Mabhida and Harry Gwala. Moses Mabhida, which includes Pietermaritzburg, is considered Zuma's strongest base in the ANC. His backers in the region have boycotted ANC events, organising their own instead.
"In Moses Mabhida in some branches the regional task team had to rope in ward elections teams because branches were hesitant to participate in party activities," said Mthembu. "We went there and confronted the challenges."
Ramaphosa managed to charm ANC supporters in the province, and there were no incidents of booing or jeering, although Zuma was the crowd favourite wherever the two men went. On Tuesday at a rally in Inanda, north of Durban, the crowd chanted Zuma's name after Ramaphosa spoke.
But Ramaphosa seems to have turned Zuma's popularity to his advantage, insisting that the two get along.
"Thank you, Nxamalala [a title signifying respect], for handing over the baton to me. I will run with it together with the ANC NEC and we will make you proud and make our country great," he told the stadium crowd.
"He is now a former president. I will use him for different tasks. Former presidents have experience and knowledge," said Ramaphosa.
Insiders said the success of the January 8 celebrations dealt a blow to the fightback strategy of Zuma's backers as the ANC displayed unity.
But the unity is unlikely to last long, with a fresh battle set to break out over the party's list process.
Ramaphosa's backers are expected to push for the clean-up of the list to get rid of compromised leaders such as former cabinet minister Malusi Gigaba and ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe.
An NEC meeting is expected to sit before the end of the month to approve the final list of potential MPs.
At their previous meeting, both sides agreed to "consider principles of integrity" when finalising the list, but actual names were not considered.
There are still a handful of people on the list who will be subject to scrutiny, said an insider.
In his speech yesterday, Ramaphosa said "factionalism and patronage" had diminished the ANC's ability to lead the process of transformation and "fulfil its mandate to the people".
In the build-up to the rally, Ramaphosa repeatedly told communities he interacted with that the past few years were very difficult for the party and the government.
He maintained that spirit in his midday address yesterday, saying the ANC was working hard to correct its mistakes.
"After a period of doubt and uncertainty, we have arrived at a moment of hope and renewal," Ramaphosa said...