S'bu Ndebele was re-elected leader of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday after narrowly beating Dr Zweli Mkhize by 17 votes in a "touch-and-go" contest at the party's provincial conference at the University of Durban-Westville.
Mkhize defied earlier indications that Ndebele might have a free cruise in defending his position, and took him head-on in a bruising encounter which split the 500-strong conference into two almost equal sides.
But Mkhize's 248-231 defeat by Ndebele was no train smash as he clawed back into the top five by trouncing Cape Town-based ANC MP Ruth Bhengu to retain his position as deputy chairperson.
Mkhize had earlier been nominated for the positions of provincial ANC chairperson and deputy chairperson in an emotionally charged process of last-minute lobbying.
When he lost to Ndebele on Saturday night, Mkhize stood for the deputy's position on Sunday and defeated Bhengu by 325 votes to 144 - the widest margin in all the five top positions.
The ANC's entire top five leadership was re-elected, but not without some heart-stopping moments for some leaders as incumbent secretary Sipho Gcabashe was locked in a tie with challenger Nathi Mthethwa at 190 votes each.
With the outcome so unusual, the conference resolved to announce the results on Saturday evening to allow Gcabashe and Mthethwa to slug it out in a re-run on Sunday morning.
In the second round, a total of 471 delegates voted, with two absentees and two spoilt ballot papers.
The final result for the position of provincial secretary was 235 to 232 in favour of Gcabashe, who spent Saturday night contemplating his future, with the option of being deployed as a back bench MP in Cape Town.
Another noteworthy race was between Mike Mabuyakhulu and businessman Don Mkhwanazi for the position of treasurer. Mkhwanazi lost by 152 votes to Mabuyakhulu's 320.
Deputy secretary Senzo Mchunu successfully fobbed off a challenge by Mbuso Kubheka, who scratched a mere 171 votes to the incumbent's 304.
