Senior ANC figures, including deputy president Paul Mashatile, Thoko Didiza, Fikile Mbalula, Ronald Lamola and Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa – are increasingly being touted as possible contenders to succeed party leader President Cyril Ramaphosa. The race to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa as the leader of the ANC has burst wide open, with fresh polling revealing a volatile field that includes surprise entries and a non-candidate billionaire leading the charge. The intensifying succession talk has overshadowed this week’s ANC National General Council (NGC) meeting, even as party officials insist there is no leadership battle.
The NGC meeting at Birchwood conference centre this week marked the start of the final phase of Ramaphosa’s presidency, with the party’s elective conference scheduled for 2027. According to reports, the Social Research Foundation (SRF) conducted a national poll to gauge the public moodindicating a closely contested race. According to reports, the Social Research Foundation (SRF) conducted a national poll to gauge the public mood While deputy president Paul Mashatile and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula remain the most frequently mentioned contenders, the SRF poll has delivered a shock front-runner, businessman and soccer boss, Patrice Motsepe. Despite having publicly declared he will not stand, the billionaire and president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)—was included in the polls due to suggestions he could be persuaded by his backers to contest the 2027 ANC elective conference.
