Baleka Mbete’s ambitions to take over as ANC president next year received a major boost over the weekend when her AmaHlubi tribe hosted a traditional ceremony in her honour in Mqanduli.
Chief Victor Sibenya of AmaHlubi in the Western Cape said they’d had discussions with the national ANC chairwoman and speaker of the National Assembly about her presiden-tial ambitions, but she had made it clear that before embarking on any campaign she needed the support of her family.
Sibenya said Baleka “wanted to start with her family, her tribe and all AmaHlubi to give her blessings.
“She did not want them to hear about that from the media,” he added.
Sibenya was one of several AmaHlubi traditional leaders who atten-ded the traditional ceremony held at Mbete’s Gumatana village in Mqanduli on Saturday.
Mbete has chosen the Eastern Cape as the launch pad of her presidential campaign – which started with an ANC branch in Mqanduli being named after her last Friday.
It is unusual for ANC branches to be named after living leaders.
Her campaign has been active behind the scenes but so far has failed to pick up any traction. It is also significant that she chose to come out publicly about her presidential ambitions a few weeks after confirmation that Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will not be seeking a second term as African Union (AU) commission chairwoman.
Mbete has always had presidential ambitions.
She refused to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament in 2009 when it became clear that Zuma would choose Kgalema Motlanthe as his deputy.
She had served as deputy president when Motlanthe was made president following the recall of former president Thabo Mbeki.
Chief Thanduxolo Magadla, who is the executive member of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, led the Hlubi tribe as they blessed Mbete.
“We are supporting and blessing her endeavours to be president.
“We are here to plead with the ancestors to be with her all the way as she is preparing in her presidential campaign,” Magadla said.
In an interview with the Daily Dispatch on Friday night, Mbete confirmed that several senior ANC leaders had approached her and asked her to stand as Zuma’s successor.
But she refused to confirm whether she would stand, even downplaying the significance of the ceremony held a day after the interview.
Mbete said she was in no position to pronounce her availability for the presidential race as the issue was not yet open for discussion within the party. “No pronouncement could therefore be made by anyone. I am a devout member of the organisation. If the organisation says that it is not on the table, it is not on the agenda.
“Let us wait until that time has come to answer your question. But for now, I really cannot, as a disciplined member do something the organisation has said is not on the agenda,” Mbete said.
“There are many people ,” she said. “However, I will not answer that now.”
If indeed Mbete has presidential ambitions, she is likely to contest against AU leader Dlamini-Zuma, as well as the current deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa. Dlamini-Zuma is reportedly the trump card of the Premier League, a group comprising ANC provincial chairs, including Free State’s Ace Magashule, Mpumalanga’s David Mabuza, and Supra Mahomapelo of North West.
The group was reportedly central to the outcomes of the recent ANC Women’s League and Youth League conferences in which Bathabile Dlamini and Collen Maine were elected respectively.
At least four traditional leaders, as well as family members who attended Saturday’s ceremony, confirmed it was a well-known secret that the ceremony was organised to bless Mbete.
Speaking to the Dispatch, Mbete said the ANC was more than ready to have a woman president.
“One of them was Charlotte Maxeke. She was such a great woman and did things that even male leaders had not done. But culturally, at that point, our minds were not ready .
“But now after 100 years of existence, the ANC has grown.
“Now it would not be difficult to have a woman as president.”
Mbete described Saturday’s ceremony as an “ordinary family ritual”.
She said she was happy to receive support of the AmaHlubi, her tribe.
“As I am going back to the office, I know I am carrying the support from my people and that is soothing,” she said. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za/lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Blessed presidential dreams
Chief Victor Sibenya of AmaHlubi in the Western Cape said they’d had discussions with the national ANC chairwoman and speaker of the National Assembly about her presiden-tial ambitions, but she had made it clear that before embarking on any campaign she needed the support of her family.
Sibenya said Baleka “wanted to start with her family, her tribe and all AmaHlubi to give her blessings.
“She did not want them to hear about that from the media,” he added.
Sibenya was one of several AmaHlubi traditional leaders who atten-ded the traditional ceremony held at Mbete’s Gumatana village in Mqanduli on Saturday.
Mbete has chosen the Eastern Cape as the launch pad of her presidential campaign – which started with an ANC branch in Mqanduli being named after her last Friday.
It is unusual for ANC branches to be named after living leaders.
Her campaign has been active behind the scenes but so far has failed to pick up any traction. It is also significant that she chose to come out publicly about her presidential ambitions a few weeks after confirmation that Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will not be seeking a second term as African Union (AU) commission chairwoman.
Mbete has always had presidential ambitions.
She refused to be sworn in as a Member of Parliament in 2009 when it became clear that Zuma would choose Kgalema Motlanthe as his deputy.
She had served as deputy president when Motlanthe was made president following the recall of former president Thabo Mbeki.
Chief Thanduxolo Magadla, who is the executive member of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders, led the Hlubi tribe as they blessed Mbete.
“We are supporting and blessing her endeavours to be president.
“We are here to plead with the ancestors to be with her all the way as she is preparing in her presidential campaign,” Magadla said.
In an interview with the Daily Dispatch on Friday night, Mbete confirmed that several senior ANC leaders had approached her and asked her to stand as Zuma’s successor.
But she refused to confirm whether she would stand, even downplaying the significance of the ceremony held a day after the interview.
Mbete said she was in no position to pronounce her availability for the presidential race as the issue was not yet open for discussion within the party. “No pronouncement could therefore be made by anyone. I am a devout member of the organisation. If the organisation says that it is not on the table, it is not on the agenda.
“Let us wait until that time has come to answer your question. But for now, I really cannot, as a disciplined member do something the organisation has said is not on the agenda,” Mbete said.
“There are many people ,” she said. “However, I will not answer that now.”
If indeed Mbete has presidential ambitions, she is likely to contest against AU leader Dlamini-Zuma, as well as the current deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa. Dlamini-Zuma is reportedly the trump card of the Premier League, a group comprising ANC provincial chairs, including Free State’s Ace Magashule, Mpumalanga’s David Mabuza, and Supra Mahomapelo of North West.
The group was reportedly central to the outcomes of the recent ANC Women’s League and Youth League conferences in which Bathabile Dlamini and Collen Maine were elected respectively.
At least four traditional leaders, as well as family members who attended Saturday’s ceremony, confirmed it was a well-known secret that the ceremony was organised to bless Mbete.
Speaking to the Dispatch, Mbete said the ANC was more than ready to have a woman president.
“One of them was Charlotte Maxeke. She was such a great woman and did things that even male leaders had not done. But culturally, at that point, our minds were not ready .
“But now after 100 years of existence, the ANC has grown.
“Now it would not be difficult to have a woman as president.”
Mbete described Saturday’s ceremony as an “ordinary family ritual”.
She said she was happy to receive support of the AmaHlubi, her tribe.
“As I am going back to the office, I know I am carrying the support from my people and that is soothing,” she said. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za/lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos