Lobbying for Motsepe’s ANC leadership in full swing

The campaign to position billionaire businessmanPatrice Motsepeas a potential future leader of the ANC is operating in full swing, despite the party’s national executive committee (NEC) instructing members not to campaign ahead of its 2027 elective conference. TheMail & Guardianthis week visited the Johannesburg offices linked to the so-called PM27 Savumelana campaign, where organisers were coordinating activities associated with the initiative supporting Motsepe. One of the chief campaigners for the initiative, Ishmael Mnisi, said it was currently focusing on strengthening the ANC ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

The campaign believes capable and stable municipalities are central to improving service delivery and rebuilding confidence in the governing party, Mnisi said. The PM27 campaign’s present activities were aimed at reinforcing the ANC’s organisational strength at the grassroots level rather than formally campaigning for leadership positions, he added. “Our work at the moment is focused on helping consolidate the ANC’s support base and electoral performance across the country,” Mnisi said, adding that the PM27 Savumelana campaign had already established national and provincial structures to coordinate its activities.

A 24-member national coordination structure had been formed, led by national convenor Thulani Ngesi and secretary Ayanda Ngangelizwe, alongside nine provincial coordination teams responsible for engagement and mobilisation in each province. Mnisi said organisers were engaging ANC branches and internal party structures across the country as part of efforts to build broad support for the initiative. Provincial teams were working with regional and local ANC leaders to extend the campaign’s reach in both urban and rural areas.

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The campaign was built around the principles of unity within the ANC, ethical leadership, organisational renewal and socio-economic transformation, Mnisi said. Supporters believed Motsepe’s background in business, philanthropy and nation-building positioned him as a leader capable of guiding the ANC into a period of renewal. He however emphasised that the campaign would only formally mobilise behind Motsepe’s candidacy once the ANC national executive committee opened nominations ahead of the 2027 conference.

“The campaign is engaging ANC branches and structures across the country to build support at grassroots level. Provincial teams are also working with regional and local leaders, as the initiative gains traction among branches in both urban and rural areas,” Mnisi said. Motsepe remains focused on his existing responsibilities and has not expressed interest in contesting the party’s top position, his spokesperson Luxolo September said. “Dr Motsepe has not indicated any intention to run for leadership of the ANC,” he said.

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