Key Takeaways
- Thoko Didiza, the National Assembly speaker, has emerged as a candidate to replace ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa, with the backing of some party bigwigs, including Ramaphosa himself.
- Didiza’s candidacy is seen as a surprise, as much of the talk had centered around Ramaphosa’s deputy, Paul Mashatile, and party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.
- Ramaphosa had previously wanted Senzo Mchunu to succeed him, but Mchunu was placed on special leave amid allegations of corruption and political interference.
- The ANC’s National General Council (NGC) will be held this week, which may test the waters for a Didiza presidency and increase pressure on Ramaphosa to step down.
Introduction to the ANC Succession Crisis
The African National Congress (ANC) is facing a succession crisis, with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s term coming to an end and several candidates emerging to replace him. While much of the talk had centered around Ramaphosa’s deputy, Paul Mashatile, and party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, a new candidate has emerged in the form of National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza. According to reports, Didiza has the backing of Ramaphosa himself, who had previously wanted Senzo Mchunu to succeed him. However, Mchunu was placed on special leave amid allegations of corruption and political interference, and it is unclear whether he will be able to regain his position as a viable candidate.
The Emergence of Thoko Didiza
Thoko Didiza’s emergence as a candidate is seen as a surprise, as she had not been mentioned as a potential successor to Ramaphosa until recently. However, she has reportedly already been introduced to potential funders and has the backing of some party bigwigs. A source told the Sunday Times that Ramaphosa had told potential funders that he prefers Didiza over other candidates, including Mashatile and Mbalula. However, there are concerns that Didiza may not have the backing of ordinary ANC members and may struggle to garner support from provinces. Despite this, her candidacy is seen as a significant development in the ANC’s succession crisis, and her backing by Ramaphosa gives her a significant advantage over other candidates.
The Fall of Senzo Mchunu
Senzo Mchunu, the police minister, was previously seen as Ramaphosa’s preferred successor, but his candidacy was derailed by allegations of corruption and political interference. Mchunu was placed on special leave by Ramaphosa in July, and a judicial commission of inquiry and a Parliamentary ad-hoc committee have been established to investigate the allegations against him. While Mchunu has denied the allegations, his name may not be completely out of the running, and he may still emerge as a candidate in the months leading up to the ANC elective conference in 2027. However, for now, his candidacy appears to be on hold, and Didiza has emerged as a new front-runner.
The ANC’s Leadership Crisis
The ANC is facing a significant leadership crisis, with corruption, factionalism, and infighting plaguing the party. ANC stalwart Mathews Phosa has expressed confidence that the right leader will emerge to rescue the party from its current crisis. Phosa told The Citizen that he believes the right leader will emerge at the right time, and that they may not necessarily be a member of the current National Executive Committee (NEC). Phosa’s comments suggest that the ANC is in need of a fresh start, and that the party’s current leadership may not be up to the task of leading the party forward.
Ramaphosa’s Future
Despite public calls for party members not to discuss or scheme, rumors around Ramaphosa’s successor have been swirling for months. There have been reports that Ramaphosa may not see out his term, and that he may step down before the end of his term. The Citizen previously reported that Ramaphosa was rumored to have wanted to step down after the recent G20 Leaders’ Summit, but was convinced to stay on. However, the pressure for him to go may increase when the party sits for its National General Council (NGC) this week. The NGC will be a significant test of Ramaphosa’s leadership, and may provide an indication of whether he will be able to see out his term or whether he will be forced to step down.
The National General Council
The ANC’s National General Council (NGC) will be held from Monday, 8 December, to Thursday, 11 December. The NGC is a mid-term review platform that will allow the party to refine its strategies and tactics for the battles ahead. The NGC will also provide an opportunity for the party to discuss its leadership crisis and the succession of Ramaphosa. Didiza’s candidacy is likely to be a major topic of discussion at the NGC, and the conference may provide an indication of whether she has the support of the party’s members. The NGC will be a significant event in the ANC’s calendar, and will provide an important insight into the party’s future direction and leadership.