Cyril flirts with Dlamini-Zuma

Any compromise between presidential hopefuls Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa would assist to achieve unity and cohesion within the ANC, a political analyst has said.

The analyst, André Duvenhage, from the Potchefstroom campus of the North West University, said there might be a move towards a compromise if one side was not doing well in the campaign.

He said there appeared to be the loss of momentum in the Dlamini-Zuma camp, while Ramaphosa was gaining momentum in places where it was never imagined before, such as Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

This, as weekend news reports claimed that Ramaphosa had planned to approach Dlamini-Zuma with a view for the two to reach a compromise.

The compromise was planned to place Ramaphosa as president and Dlamini-Zuma as his deputy, but this was rejected by her campaigners, who feared losing out in the process.

The compromise position was first proposed by outgoing ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, who questioned why the ANC tradition could not be followed to have the incumbent deputy president automatically succeeding the president.

He suggested that Ramaphosa, as current ANC deputy president, must succeed Jacob Zuma, with Dlamini-Zuma as his deputy.

Mantashe still held that position despite the fact that he was himself nominated as national chairperson candidate on the Ramaphosa ticket. Mantashe argued that this ANC would help achieve unity in the party.

Yesterday, Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) spokesperson Carl Niehaus refuted claims Dlamini-Zuma would abandon her campaign and deputise Ramaphosa.

He described the reports as “absolutely false”, “fake news” and “propaganda”. Duvenhage said a compromise was not a far-fetched idea, but it was not on the cards at the moment.

“At the moment she is fighting alone, but it is highly likely that she would co-operate if she realised later that things were not looking good for her,” he said.

– ericn@citizen.co.za

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