While the race to lead the ANC has traditionally been seen as a showdown between Deputy President Paul Mashatile and the party’s Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, the SRF poll has introduced an unexpected player into the race. The race to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa as leader of the African National Congress (ANC) is heating up, with fresh polling and high-profile political maneuvers indicating an increasingly volatile field of contenders. This week’s ANC National General Council (NGC) meeting in Boksburg has become the backdrop for the growing succession debate, even as party officials downplay the idea of an imminent leadership battle.
The NGC, held at the Birchwood Conference Centre, marked the beginning of the final phase of Ramaphosa’s presidency, with the ANC’s next elective conference scheduled for 2027. However, talk of who will lead the ANC after Ramaphosa is already dominating internal discussions, fuelled by the findings of a recent Social Research Foundation (SRF) poll that paints a highly competitive picture. Business tycoon Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and a prominent billionaire, is leading the pack, despite his public insistence that he will not run.
Motsepe’s inclusion in the poll has raised eyebrows, with some suggesting that his backers could convince him to run in 2027. The SRF survey found Motsepe holding a five percentage point lead over Mashatile among general voters, though the preference among ANC supporters showed a slightly different trend. Within the party base, the race remains fluid, with other prominent names gaining traction as well.
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The race for the ANC presidency has been further complicated by the emergence of several new, high-profile candidates. The ANC Women’s League is actively pushing for the party’s first female president, and this has brought forward Nomvula Mokonyane, the ANC’s Deputy Secretary-General, and Thoko Didiza, the National Assembly Speaker, as potential contenders. Mokonyane’s political future, however, is clouded by her alleged involvement in the Bosasa corruption scandal, which was extensively detailed in the findings of the State Capture Commission.
Despite this, insiders believe Mokonyane could still throw her hat in the ring, particularly with the backing of some ANC factions. Didiza, meanwhile, is seen by many as a reform candidate with strong ties to President Ramaphosa. Her candidacy is gaining traction among those who seek a more modern, forward-thinking leadership for the ANC. Some senior ANC members reportedly see Didiza as a potential unifying figure who could guide the party through a period of renewal.
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