By Carol Paton 

Elections for the ANC national executive committee are underway with many predicting a clean sweep for the Zuma camp here as well.

If Zuma supporters vote as a block – as they did in the election for the Top 6 – none of SA’s economic ministers will make it onto the committee. Missing from the list being handed to Zuma supporters to inform their voting are Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, his deputy Jabu Moleketi, Trade & Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa; and Public Enterprises minister Alec Erwin. All are firm supporters of former ANC President Thabo Mbeki.

Other heavy hitters who Zuma fans will not be voting for are government head of policy Joel Netshitenzhe and 20 out of 26 of Mbeki’s cabinet ministers. Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa was this afternoon said to have withdrawn his nomination for the NEC.

The only serving cabinet ministers who appear on the Zuma list are: Minister of Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan; Minister of Housing, Lindiwe Sisulu; Minister of Social Development, Zola Skweyiya and foreign affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

However should the Zuma camp not vote as a bloc, Manuel, Netshitenzhe and others could still be voted on.

The results of the voting are to be announced at the close of the conference tomorrow midday. Mbeki supporters are still scratching their heads over how they were so thoroughly trounced in the elections for the Top 6. While the writing has been on the wall since the provincial nominations process ended on November 26, die-hard Mbeki-ites did not see last night’s defeat coming.

Smuts Ngonyama said that numbers given to them by people in the provinces before the voting indicated Mbeki would win. Similarly cabinet ministers Essop Pahad and Ronnie Kasrils were genuinely confident yesterday afternoon telling close colleagues and friends that Mbeki’s victory was in the bag.