Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Velani Ludidi
Published on 2024-03-08 13:52:32
Former Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool is making a comeback to active politics as the ANC in the Western Cape has put forward his name as a candidate for the National Assembly. The list of candidates, led by Theewaterskloof Municipality Speaker and ANC provincial treasurer Derek Appel, also includes Cameron Dugmore, who has been the leader of the opposition in the provincial legislature. Other names on the list are Thandi Manikivana, Wendy Plaatjies, Sharon Davids, Major Sokopo, Mathilda Bains, Boy Manqoba, and Bheki Hadebe.
Rasool was previously removed as premier after the 2007 Polokwane conference where Jacob Zuma was elected as the leader of the ANC. Allegations of collusion with journalists who wrote favorable articles about him led to his recall. Rasool has previously represented the ANC in parliament and served as an ambassador to the United States from 2010 to 2015.
The ANC’s National Executive Committee is set to announce the final candidate list following discussions that lasted until the early hours of Friday, with the deadline for submission to the IEC being 5 pm. Ayanda Bans leads the province-to-province candidate list, followed by Rachel Windvogel, Benson Ngqentsu, Khalid Sayed, and Pat Lekker. Surprisingly, provincial chairperson JJ Tyhalisisu is not on either list for national or provincial legislature representatives.
While Khalid Sayed is ranked fourth on the provincial list, he is being considered as the party’s premier candidate, with various civil societies aligned with the ANC supporting him. The ANC’s support in the Western Cape has been declining, with only 28% of the vote in the last national elections in 2019, down from 45.2% in 2004. The DA remains the majority party in the province, garnering 55.45% of the vote in the previous elections.
The party is looking to International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor to boost its campaign in Cape Town, as she is popular in the Muslim community and has gained support for her efforts to secure a cease-fire in Gaza. The ANC plans to capitalize on Pandor’s popularity in a province led by the DA, which does not share the same pro-Palestine stance. Despite attempts to reach Rasool for comment, there has been no response.
In conclusion, the ANC’s candidate list for the upcoming elections reflects a mix of experienced politicians and new faces, with a focus on reclaiming support in the Western Cape. With key players like Rasool and Dugmore in the running, the ANC is hoping to turn the tide on its declining fortunes in the province.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
