NEW LEADERSHIP
ANTHONY BUTLER: Half a dozen eggs to dance on in ANC
'What is this strange thing called the 'top six' of the ANC?'
What is this strange thing called the "top six" of the ANC? An historical accident of relatively recent creation, it is not mentioned at all in the movement’s constitution. For most of the ANC’s history, there have been at most three key national positions: president, treasurer and secretary-general. The deputy presidency was introduced only in 1958 as part of an exercise in ethnic, regional and generational rebalancing. Two years later, after the banning of the ANC, the exile movement was run by its deputy president, OR Tambo. While Tambo also became "acting president" in 1967, he retained the office of deputy president until 1985, when a still incarcerated Nelson Mandela was "elected" to this position. The prominent position of secretary-general has changed just as much over the years. Walter Sisulu and Tambo held the office in succession in the 1950s before later ascending to the deputy presidency and presidency, respectively.In 1991, Cyril Ramaphosa defeated both the incumbent A...
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