The national spokesperson of the African National Congress (ANC), Pule Mabe, may have some explaining to do when he recovers from the thrills of what appears to have been a wild night out at an executive council conference.
Watch: Pule Mabe looks tipsy in this viral ‘Adiwele’ clip
The ANC has, in the past few months, been busy with regional meet-ups in anticipation of the party’s national conference later this year, where a new leader will be elected.
Recently, the highly emotive branch meetups have been laden with high emotions. Factionalism may exist within specific structures of the ruling party, but when members come together in song, the scene always purports a false facade of unity.
This is what we’ve seen in video clips taken at the end of regional conferences. In Gauteng, branch members broke out into song in a show of support for Dr Zweli Mkhize‘s bid for party presidency.
Mabe’s raucous performance, however, is what has lived in the memories of social media commenters. Not only was the national spokesperson’s vocal cords way off tune, but so was the state of his sobriety, some may argue.
Mabe led a choir of inebriated party members into a disharmonious chorus that called on ANC supporters to ‘cross over’ or Adiwele to a new dawn.
Despite this false facade of unity, tensions remain rife within the unstable structures of the ruling party, with factions tugging at each other like crabs in a barrel for a chance to have their interests represented by a single leader.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will look to retain his ANC presidency, cautious of the lingering threat posed by his former Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and suspended Secretary General Ace Magashule.
If Ramaphosa rises above his in-party detractors, he could be in line to serve his second term in office.