Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has called on ANC members to rally behind the party’s new top seven national leaders led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“I think the outcome [of the elections] is what the delegates have expressed. It’s what we must accept [as ANC members] and the delegates need to move forward to rebuild the organisation,” said Lamola.
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He spoke to the media on Monday on the sidelines of the ANC’s 55th national conference at the Johannesburg Expo Centre.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected for a second term as the ANC’s president after beating his challenger for the top position, Zweli Mkhize, by 2 476.
Mkhize, who had the backing of KwaZulu-Natal going into the conference in Nasrec, received 1 897 votes.
‘No regrets’
Lamola said he had no regrets for not withdrawing from the race for the ANC’s deputy president to ensure victory for Ramaphosa’s ally, Eastern Cape ANC provincial chair Oscar Mabuyane.
Paul Mashatile defeated Lamola and Mabuyane for the post by a whopping 2 178 votes.
The minister only managed to garner 315 votes while Mabuyane received 1 858 votes.
With hindsight, Lamola said he believes he did the right thing by standing for the position to inspire young people in the ANC to contest leadership roles.
“I have no regrets, I think my standing on principle was important to inspire the younger generation across the country.
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“The ANC belongs to young people and everyone. So, I believe I’ve pathed the way for those who are coming behind me to lead the ANC.”
Lamola congratulated Ramaphosa on his re-election for a second term.
He said the president would be seized with dealing with South Africa’s pressing socio-economic challenges for the next five years.
“We believe [Ramaphosa’s re-election] is good for the country, the programme of renewal [of the ANC], the economy, to deal with corruption and many other issues, including the challenge of electricity,” he said.
