The top leadership of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress is meeting for the first time since the party’s election victory earlier this month with selection of provincial premiers top of their agenda.
The opposition Democratic Alliance is relieve the ANC deliberations are occupying the headlines – eclipsing controversy surrounding the departure of their parliamentary leader.
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The position of premier in the heartland Gauteng province is the trickiest issue facing the ANC top leadership.
President Jacob Zuma wants to keep Nomvula Mokonyane in the job.
The party’s provincial leadership’s saying she must pay for the ANC barely managing to retain control of the province.
The ANC’s committed to having women lead at least half of the eight provinces it controls.
With disputes over the premiership in at least four of these provinces, the ANC’s eager to avoid a split between the regional and national leadership creating two parties.
Opposition leader Hellen Zille denies reports that she’s caused the departure of parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko.
Zille says she’s never done as much to forward someone’s career as she did for Mazibuko
The departing politician says she has taken up a scholarship with Harvard University in the United States.
She’s avoided commenting on any clash she might have had with the party leader.