The ANC has put leaders who are well-known for supporting President Cyril Ramaphosa to lead the campaign in KwaZulu-Natal as it is being looked at in the local government elections that will be held on November 4 this year.
As these events are taking place, the Congress has set another eye on planning the conference which will elect a new leadership at the end of 2027.
Two weeks ago, the organization moved the temporary leader, Mr. Jeff Radebe, to this position and replaced him with Mr. Mike Mabuyakhulu, and brought the former mayor of Durban, Mr. James Nxumalo, to act as producer in KwaZulu-Natal. Both Mabuyakhulu and Nxumalo have been Ramaphosa’s supporters since he was elected in 2017 and 2022 at the Congress conferences.
The appointment of Mr. Thabani Nyawose as the head of leadership in the Thekwini region was not surprising. Nyawose is an unquestionable confidant of the President and currently holds the position of Speaker of the City Council. Nyawose will work with Mr Thanduxolo Sabelo who will be the producer of the ANC in Durban.
Nyawose and Sabelo were on the list that tried to enter the leadership of the ANC in Durban but were defeated by the slate put by Mrs. Zandile Gumede who was known to sympathize with Mr. Jacob Zuma in 2022.
Mrs Gumede was unable to take office due to the organisation’s policy to resign if she is still facing charges as she was still going to court over the R320 million tender for the Durban Solid Waste unit when she was mayor.
Nyawose accepted his appointment and thanked the ANC for trusting him.
“I am very humbled by the ANC for trusting me, this is not an easy task. I pray that God gives me the wisdom to lead His people according to His will,” said Nyawose.
Ushesha clarified that he is aware of the concerns of the people of Durban as there are already steps being taken to address the issue of service delivery that is not at the appropriate level.
In terms of origin, Nyawose is from the southern coast of the province. He is one of those who passed through the eye of the needle when 19 people were killed in Shobashobane on Christmas 1995 where his other relatives were also killed.
Apart from Nyawose’s team in Durban, new leaders have been elected in other regions. In Moses Mabhida in Pietermaritzburg, Mr. Nathi Dladla was reinstated as interim leader and former Cosatu secretary Mr. Zet Luzipo who will be the producer.
Nyawose and Dladla have been given a difficult job as the party led by Zuma, Mkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) gathered a lot of votes in these regions for the national and provincial elections in 2024.
Last week, Zuma warned the MKP to work to wrest Thekwini from the hands of the ANC, EFF and IFP coalition council.