DEPUTY President Cyril Ramaphosa should succeed President Jacob Zuma as ANC leader in 2017.
That’s what delegates said yesterday at Cosatu’s national congress in Jozi – despite calls for ruling alliance parties not to discuss the ANC leadership succession until after the municipal elections next year.
Sadtu deputy general secretary Nkosinathi Dolopi said it was tradition for the ANC deputy president to become president when the sitting president wasn’t contesting.
“When we elected him (Ramaphosa) as deputy president in 2012, we had faith in him. He should become ANC president,” said Dolopi.
He said that if Ramaphosa didn’t succeed Zuma in 2017 it would be because they had failed in their duty.
A Democratic Nursing Organisation (Denosa) delegate said the deputy president must become president.
A delegate from the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union said Sadtu and Denosa were correct but succession shouldn’t be discussed at the congress. “This is a very sensitive matter and should be referred to the central executive committee,” the delegate said.
Cosatu delegates spoke out after SACP leader Blade Nzimande warned against the danger of such talk dividing the alliance before next year’s elections. He said the debate recalled the 2007 Polokwane congress when Zuma defeated Thabo Mbeki.
The SACP is reported to be backing Ramaphosa after approaching him to start campaigning.
- Sdumo Dlamini was re-elected Cosatu president and acting general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali was elected to succeed expelled Zwelinzima Vavi as general secretary.