Mangaung celebrates before election result is known

Delegates supporting President Jacob Zuma at the ANC conference in Mangaung. Picture: Felix Dlangamandla

The voting for the ANC’s top six posts has not yet started but supporters of President Jacob Zuma’s bid for a second term are already celebrating.

Delegates from Nelson Mandela Bay were partying on the road side, glasses in hand, during the break that followed the nominations process at the party’s Mangaung conference in Bloemfontein this afternoon. Fold-up chairs and cooler boxes were arranged around their vehicles while they danced and sang songs praising Zuma.

From their perspective, the top six election is a done deal.

“Kgalema is saying he won’t serve under Zuma,’’ said one delegate from the Raymond Mhlaba branch. “That’s why he withdrew as deputy. Zuma will win hands down. Tokyo (Sexwale) and (Mathews) Phosa have split their vote by both standing. Cyril (Ramaphosa) will take it easily.’

“Jessie (Duarte) is in as deputy already. Mbaks (Fikile Mbalula) should have withdrawn. Gwede (Mantashe) is going to embarrass him. The same with Thandi (Modise) and (Paul) Mashatile. We are going to take all top six posts. It’s clear,’’ he said.