Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, seen here in a happy mood with President Jacob Zuma, has been declared undesirable for the position of next ANC president by the party's leader in Polokwane Photo: Simphiwe Nkwali
African Union chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's campaign to succeed her ex-husband Jacob Zuma as the ANC's leader in 2017 has hit a brick wall in Limpopo.
This comes after her candidature was challenged and ridiculed by Julius Malema's foe and ANC branch leader in Seshego, Boy Mamabolo, last week during the party's special regional council of the party's Peter Mokaba region.
Mambolo denounced Dlamini-Zuma's ambition to take over the party leadership and warned the delegates in the presence of four national executive committee (NEC) deployees - Fikile Mbalula, Edna Molewa, Nathi Mthethwa and Ruth Bhengu - that the ANC would die if she took the reins in 2017.
Sunday World understands that Mamabolo told the delegates that the ANC declined in support and lost metropolitan municipalities because of Zuma's scandals.
It is understood that he told those in attendance that "Dlamini-Zuma should not be allowed to take over the party leadership to avoid being punished by the voters further in 2019".
Mamabolo confirmed he made the submission at the council, and added "that is the truth and nothing can beat it".
"Most ANC members are going to leave the ANC when we lose power in 2019 to join Julius Malema's party [Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)]. The ANC has been infiltrated by opportunists who don't love it, but those who see it as a ladder to achieve their personal ambitions and accumulation of wealth. When we are out of power, they are going to leave and join EFF.
"If the ANC truly respects the voters, they must not allow Dlamini-Zuma to ascend to the position of party leader because what is going to happen next is going to be catastrophic for the ANC. ANC will die," he said.
Mamabolo also took a swipe at Mbalula, calling him a celebrity and not a politician.
He accused Mbalula of not being a committed politician like his counterparts in the opposition, saying "he does not love the ANC, but the high life".
This, he said, was because the sports minister was in love with the limelight, which would not help the ANC garner more votes to help it win elections.
He accused Mbalula of travelling all the way to the US to watch boxer Floyd Mayweather fighting but failed to drive 300km to help the ANC campaign in Malema's ward in Seshego.
"We have a minister who goes and pops champagnes at Taboo night club in Sandton, while ANC branches have no T-shirts to campaign in the elections," said Mamabolo.
In another part of Limpopo, in the Vhembe region, NEC deployees made up of Nomvula Mokonyane, Ngoako Ramtlhodi and Billy Masetlha and some provincial executives (PEC) failed to show up at the region's special regional council at the weekend.
Sunday World understands that the only PEC member who made it to the meeting was provincial treasurer Danny Msiza.
ANC provincial secretary Knocks Seabi confirmed that the meeting was called off.
Seabi, who was accused by some of being responsible for the chaos, said he could not be blamed for the no-show of NEC deployees.
"I also don't know why they did not pitch, but what I know is that other PEC members gave their apologises. NEC members are not deployed by me but by the secretary-general [Gwede Mantashe].
"When they apologise, they also do it with the SG and, therefore, I can't be blamed because they were not deployed by me," he said.
ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said the ANC could not comment on what was said in one meeting or branches.
"The NEC will receive a detailed report for their September meeting and it won't be appropriate for us to make a running comment," he said.
Kodwa said the ANC was yet to visit the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces.
Asked about the no-show by NEC deployees in Vhembe, Kodwa said there was a number of meetings taking place, but "I'm not in a position to give reasons why they did not go there".
He said the NEC members who were expected to attend the Vhembe regional council must go back to the region so the region does not get left out of the process.
