Mabuyane tipped for third term ahead of do-or-die race

Backers believe his race will be a walk in the park

- By Mawande AmaShabalala

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane is set to lock horns for the ANC provincial chairperson position with his former ally, Lulama Ngcukayitobi.

(Gallo Images)

Eastern Cape premier and ANC provincial chairperson Oscar Mabuyane's lobbyists are beaming with confidence that his march towards a third term will be a "walk in the park" when the former liberation movement convenes its conference in the self-proclaimed "home of legends" province next weekend.

Mabuyane is set to lock horns with his former ally, provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi, at the East London ICC as the conference starts on March 27 and ends on the 29th.

Despite protestations by Ngcukayitobi of foul play in processes building up to the conference, Mabuyane's camp insists that these are signs of a man who is refusing to accept his imminent defeat.

Ngcukayitobi has written to ANC national officials, claiming widespread irregularities in buildup processes and shouting for the President Cyril Ramaphosa-led top seven to intervene.

His own camp argues that Ngcukayitobi's gutsy move is a little too late and likely to be ignored by the national officials due to meet tomorrow.

Mabuyane's forces are adamant that the letter is tantamount to the proverbial last kick of a dying horse.

The contest between the two men who served two terms together until their recent fallout has bigger implications on a national scale in the ANC.

This is because the winner, especially if it is Mabuyane, is likely to be the kingmaker in the high-stakes ANC national elective conference in December 2027. That is where the ANC will elect a successor for its current leader, Ramaphosa, who is exiting the ANC top post after serving two terms.