Outgoing premier Phumulo Masualle, who is at number 39 on the ANC’s national list, has stressed that he would serve at the behest of ANC members should the party retain power in the May elections.
Masualle, considered a loyalist to former president Jacob Zuma, is among several Zuma-aligned leaders who look set for roles in the executive or in parliament.
Also on the list is former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo, who was seen to have been purged by the Ramaphosa faction.
Masualle came second to incumbent ANC chair and finance MEC Oscar Mabuyane in the famed 2017 “festival of chairs” provincial conference which was followed by a slew of court challenges.
The Daily Dispatch reported earlier this month that when Masualle’s term comes to an end, all he wanted to do was to go home and play with his cats.
But now he’s singing a different tune, and says there was never any suggestions he would retire.
“It was an expression of a wish. It’s the organisation that decides,” Sizwe Kupelo, Masualle’s spokesperson, said on Sunday.
Kupelo said Masualle’s focus was the May election.
The ANC’s Eastern Cape province list bears 25 names, with the top six being Pumza Dyantyi, Nolitha Ntobongwana, Ndumiso Capa, Zukisa Faku, Sakumzi Somyo and Mary-Ann Dunjwa...