The notion of an alliance between Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has been shot down. Picture: Elmond Jiyane/GCIS
Lobbyists linked to Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma have scoffed at a proposal that the pair could join forces ahead of the ANC’s national elective conference.
This comes after reports this week that a deal had been struck by the two camps after it was decided at a meeting last Wednesday that they would work together.
The purported alliance was hailed as a step in the right direction, particularly for women in the ruling party, ahead of the December conference.
However, ground forces mobilising for Dlamini Zuma told the Weekend Argus they were preoccupied with the minister's home branch, which nominated her, as it had failed the ANC’s verification processes.
Meanwhile, a lobbyist for Sisulu said the camp was happy with her "one-woman campaign“.
Both women are vying for the position of ANC president and will go up against former minister of health Zweli Mkhize and the party’s incumbent leader, President Cyril Ramaphosa.
KwaZulu-Natal-based lobbyist Mxolisi Ngobese, who said he had been part of laying the groundwork for Dlamini Zuma’s campaign, said no contact had been made between the two leaders.
He said the camp had been dealt a blow after ward 32 in eThekwini, which nominated Dlamini Zuma, had failed the party’s verification processes.
"Right now we are trying to ensure that she is nominated again, because there is talk the branch could nominate Ramaphosa," he said.
He said the branch was set to reconvene on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, an ANC member in Ekurhuleni who asked not to be named said the group was happy for now with a one-woman campaign for Sisulu.
"She (Sisulu) is contesting alone. It is not true that they are working together," the branch leader said.
Political analyst André Duvenhage said the idea of a Dlamini Zuma-Sisulu alliance would not be enough to save the ANC.
"Sisulu was the first to come forward to say she would oppose Ramaphosa for president of the ANC, but her campaign lost momentum."
"I am not sure if she would be in a position to connect with NDZ. That combination – if at least Lindiwe positions herself as president, and NDZ is part of that, and then let’s say they make some agreement with Zweli Mkhize – could be influential, but right now there are divisions in KZN. It’s not clear that they could combine,“ Duvenhage said.
Duvenhage warned that Ramaphosa’s attempt at a second term would not be easy.
"Phala Phala is not yet over, and there may be other things in the pipeline. At this point, Ramaphosa is the favourite, but many things can happen in a month or two in SA politics,“ Duvenhage said.
He said things could change overnight.
"An NDZ and Sisulu alliance would be competitive for Ramaphosa, but would not be the ANC’s saving grace. I do not see anyone saving the ANC. I do not see Ramaphosa saving the ANC. I cannot see Zweli saving it.
“The problems within the ANC are a lot bigger and more comprehensive. And it’s more than a leadership problem – it’s a structural problem. But they would have a competitive advantage," Duvenhage said.