Godrich Gardee has been hinted to fill up the Economic Freedom Fighters' (EFF) deputy president, after Floyd Shivambu defected to the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.
Gardee is set to beat the party's Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, sources reveal.
Although Ndlozi was not attending the party’s elective conference in Soweto, he can still be nominated and accept the nomination for the position.
Sources within the EFF have disclosed to IOL News that Julius Malema will be re-elected unopposed as president.
This comes ahead of the nomination and election of the party’s new top six leadership for the next five years.
The red berets are currently holding their third National People’s Assembly (NPA), at Nasrec Expo Centre, in Johannesburg, Soweto.
Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the elections, secretary general Marshall Dlamini confirmed that 2,243 delegates will be casting their votes.
However, he said 2,026 voting delegates were present at the centre, which accounts to 90% of the delegates.
Dlamini said 217 delegates are absent, due to attending emergencies such as funerals, family commitments, many of them in the Eastern Cape to attend traditional ceremonies.
He, however, said all delegates were accounted for, including those who sent apologies.
“For the conference to have a quorum and be able to proceed, it needs physical presence of the delegates of minimum 50% plus one,” Dlamini said.
He said that means the elections of new leadership can proceed, stating that they needed to have 1,122 delegates at the assembly.
“As things stand now, we are sitting at 2,026 delegates, which is 90%,” Dlamini said, adding that it shows how strong the party is organised.
Dlamini argued that 65% to 70% is a typical thing at other party conferences.
He expressed that the party is satisfied with the high turnout, which he attributed to strong organisational efforts from the party’s branches and regions.
“So we're very happy just with that attendance, and it shows that our delegates, our structures, they are committed to the survival and the life and the growth of this organisation,” Dlamini said.
Meanwhile, as the speculation continues to mount about who will be elected in the Top Six, the absence of former spokesperson and Member of Parliament (MP), Ndlozi at the conference has raised eyebrows.
However, the party has confirmed that Ndlozi would not be part of the conference and that it will continue without his presence.
Political analysts have since predicted that EFF’s Godrich Gardee, Vuyani Pambo, and outgoing secretary general Marshall Dlamini could emerge as the favoured candidate for the deputy president position.
But, a reputable source inside the party has disclosed to IOL News that the Top Six will consist of Malema as president and Gardee as the deputy president.
“New entrant Nontando Nolutshungu as chairperson, and Omphile Maotwe (a role she is currently serving) as treasurer general.”
The source said Dlamini is expected to return as secretary general, while Leigh-Ann Mathys the party’s national spokesperson and Member of Parliament (MP) would be elected as the deputy secretary general.
“There were indications that Mathys is likely to be challenged by the North West secretary Papikie Babuile,” a source said.
Additionally, according to the source, conversations about EFF’s Gauteng provincial chairperson Nkululeko Dunga contesting Maotwe as treasurer general are still ongoing.
“Dunga dismissed speculation that he would accept a nomination for a top position if his name was raised from the floor,” said a source.
The election process would be overseen by an independent electoral committee, which will manage the voting and election process of the new EFF’s leadership structure.
IOL Politics