The Gauteng ANC is seldom credited for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Nasrec win. But if not for the “unity” ticket pursued by then-Gauteng chair Paul Mashatile, joining forces with David Mabuza, chair of Mpumalanga, SA would probably have the Radical Economic Transformation (RET) brigade navigating it through Covid-19.

That cringeworthy eventuality was prevented, however, and Mashatile and Mabuza were rewarded with top ANC spots after both backed Ramaphosa instead of Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma...