ANC national chair Baleka Mbete — PICTURE: LULAMILE FENI National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete’s ambitions to take over as ANC president next year received a major boost at the weekend when her amaHlubi tribe hosted a traditional ceremony in her honour in Mqanduli, south of Mthatha.Western Cape amaHlubi chief Victor Sibenya said the tribe had discussed Mbete’s presidential ambitions with her, but she had made it clear she needed the support of her family before embarking on any campaign.Sibenya said Mbete “wanted to start with her family, her tribe and all amaHlubi to give her blessings”.Sibenya was one of several amaHlubi traditional leaders who attended the traditional ceremony held at Mbete’s Gumatana village in Mqanduli on Saturday.Mbete has chosen the Eastern Cape as the launch pad of her presidential campaign, which started with an ANC ward in Mqanduli being named after her on Friday.It is unusual for ANC wards to be named after living leaders, observers say.Her campaign has ...
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