Be patient on Bay candidate: Gwede
ANC to announce mayoral names in two weeks, says Mantashe
THE ANC will announce its mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay in two weeks’ time, according to party secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.
In an interview yesterday, Mantashe said there was nothing special about the Bay and that its candidate would be announced, together with those for the other metros, when the ANC was ready.
The ANC is facing increasing pressure to announce its candidate for one of its most contested metros.
Mayor Danny Jordaan, who received the most candidate nominations from branches, is likely to get the nod from party bosses at Luthuli House.
While on the campaign trail, Jordaan has made veiled public statements hinting at his mayoral candidacy.
At an ANC rally to welcome DA members in Helenvale on Sunday, Jordaan asked voters who they would choose between, for example, a candidate who hails from Bedford and one from Bethelsdorp.
The DA’s mayoral candidate, Athol Trollip, grew up in Bedford, while Jordaan grew up in Bethelsdorp.
Yesterday, Mantashe said: “There is nothing special about Nelson Mandela Bay. People wanted us to announce our mayoral candidate during our manifesto [launch] there. Why?
“The ANC is not going to be told by people what we should do. People must be patient. We will announce all the candidates when we are ready.”
Speaking of Jordaan’s veiled comments, Mantashe said there was nothing wrong with that.
“Jordaan is a sitting mayor in the Bay. There is nothing wrong if he is canvassing. In fact, if it was me, I would have said: ‘Do you want a mayor who failed to run a farm?’ ” Mantashe said.
The ANC resolved in its national general council last year that it would break with tradition and announce its candidates before the elections.
Mantashe said people needed to be patient and wait for the ANC to finish its processes.
“We have said before that we will announce mayoral candidates early before elections – you must not be forward and want to know the exact dates,” he said.
Mantashe said the party would announce its metro mayoral candidates in two weeks time.
Political analyst Steven Friedman said yesterday the delay by the ANC to name candidates could work against it in the August 3 election.
“This could work against them because time is running out, people want to know who they will be voting for,” he said.
Friedman said there could be internal disagreements delaying the ANC’s naming of candidates.
Referring to Jordaan, Friedman said: “There might be people within the party who do not agree with his name. I mean there is no other reason because the municipality has been doing better since he took over.”
The poor attendance by supporters in the ANC’s election manifesto held in Port Elizabeth was another factor Friedman said the party needed to consider.
“They have difficulty, especially in Nelson Mandela Bay. They need to indicate to residents who they will be voting for, will that person they vote for do a good job?” he said.
