ANC's Boy Mamabolo to Run for Deputy President, Plans to Fulfil Branches Wishes

• ANC MP Boy Mamabolo has announced his intention to run for the governing party's deputy president
• Mamabolo said he will be contesting for the position at the ANC's national elective conference (NEC) next year
• The politician caused huge controversy last year when he allegedly threatened to kick a journalist in the testicles

JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC)'s controversial Member of Parliament (MP) Jacob Boy Mamabolo has his sights dead set on becoming the ruling party's deputy president.

On Thursday, the politician's foundation announced that he will be contesting for the position at the ANC's national elective conference (NEC) in December 2022. Speaking to TimesLIVE, Mamabolo said the announcement comes as local branches want him to run for the position.

"I can confirm the statement. There have been talks in branches and regions for some time now. Who am I to say no to the ANC branches? If it is their wish for me to be in a particular position, I can't say no to them," Mamabolo said.

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The MP reflected on how the same branches took him to parliament as it was not thought possible at the time that someone could go from an ANC branch to occupy a seat in parliament.

Mamabolo said when the ANC branches approached him about running for the position, they expressed, in no uncertain terms, that they wanted to launch young people in the ANC's top six. Of course, this is unheard of in South Africa as ministers and established politicians are often older, more experienced folks.

Mamabolo, who is the chairperson of the party's Milo Malatjie branch in Seshego, Polokwane, was in July last year called to order by the party after he allegedly threatened to kick a journalist in the testicles, according to News24.

The journalist was investigating an incident in which the politician criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa for his decision to ban the sale of alcohol for the second time amid strict lockdown regulations in the country. A source claimed that Mamabolo had threatened some of the members of the Milo Malatjie branch.

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However, with his ambitions within the party now bigger than ever, the former Limpopo ANC Youth League chairperson said the deputy president position was key, both in the party and state. He said if he were to be elected, he would ensure that young people are deployed to strategic positions.

"We want to see young people in cabinet, more young people in councils, we want to see them venturing into business and build them to become new billionaires," said Mamabolo.

ANC finally pays staff but December still unpaid

Elsewhere, Briefly News previously reported that the ANC has, at last, paid its staff their outstanding monthly salaries for two months after they went without a paycheck for over 90 days.

Although December payments were only expected to be processed on Wednesday, Pule Mabe, the party's spokesperson, said salaries and wages covering October and November had been paid as of Tuesday.

Reports last week suggested the ruling party was clambering to come up with about R200 million to finance its debts and pay its employees, both of which have been well-documented, before the end of the year.

Source: Briefly News