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The African National Congress (ANC) has emerged from both its Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal conferences with new leadership.

Premier David Makhura has been appointed Gauteng's ANC provincial chairperson, while Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has been elected deputy chairperson.

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) re-elected Sihle Zikalala as chairperson, with Mike Mabuyakhulu as his deputy.

Associate Professor in the Politics department at the University of Johannesburg Mcebisi Ndletyana joined Joanne Joseph on the Afternoon Drive for analysis.

KZN changed in that you have a leadership that comes across as a pro Ramaphosa leadership which means you are likely to have a very coherent leadership working toward the same direction and that is good for the ANC. That unity is very important to deal possibly with violence.

— Mcebisi Ndletyana, Associate Professor in the Politics department at UJ

The worrying factor of Zulu nationalism I am afraid has not quite disappeared because the new secretary, his rational for striving for unity is so that KZN can elect the next president from KZN.

— Mcebisi Ndletyana, Associate Professor in the Politics department at UJ

Overall it has been a very good weekend for the ANC, because these are two leading provinces in ANC politics in terms of numbers and prominence and both have pledged support toward Cyril Ramaphosa and this is what you need. You need an ANC pulling toward the same direction.

— Mcebisi Ndletyana, Associate Professor in the Politics department at UJ

Now that Ace Magashule's allies in Gauteng and KZN have been flushed out, Cyril has a much better chance of consolidating his grip over the ANC.

— Mcebisi Ndletyana, Associate Professor in the Politics department at UJ

Click on the link below to listen to the full conversation...