ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said only Deputy President Paul Mashatile should be under pressure to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa as the next head of the governing party in 2027.
“I have been two years and half elected as SG (secretary-general) and people already want me to be president. That is a great achievement,” he said.
“I have not even finished my term, I’m not even half way, because half way will be in August, so they should be talking about Paul, that should be the man that should be under pressure because he is on the door steps, he is knocking,” he said.
While maintaining that discussions on the ANC succession race remain off-limits, Mbalula informed the audience on Thursday at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s “freedom dialogue”, amidst swirling rumours and intense speculation about the party’s future direction, that his name should not even be considered at the moment due to Mashatile’s close proximity to the crown. “
Mbalula told event facilitator and podcaster Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh that personally, he was too preoccupied with rebuilding the ANC to think about leadership contestation.
He mentioned the 2026 local elections as the main hurdle facing the ANC, adding that there cannot be a conversation about succession when the party could potentially lose even more support.
In the 2024 provincial and national elections, the party’s lead dropped to 40%.
The dialogue around the ANC’s succession strategy gained momentum following ANC veteran Tokyo Sexwale’s remarks on Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh’s SMWX podcast.
Sexwale painted a vivid picture of Ramaphosa in the “departure lounge”. Citing his achievements in Gauteng, including spearheading the Gautrain project, Sexwale’s endorsement underscores Mashatile’s credentials as a transformative leader.
As the ANC grapples with preserving its legacy, Mbalula and Sexwale’s remarks about Mashatile could catalyse a shift in the party’s leadership ethos. “His [Ramaphosa’s] suitcases are being packed every day. Mashatile is going to arrive.
“Will he be the president? I wish he would be. You know why? Because I saw what we did at Polokwane,” Sexwale said.
“It’s not nice that each time since Polokwane, every president must leave like a dog; show him the door. This is the African National Congress of Nelson Mandela, who gave us this organisation in Mafikeng. But warned us, ‘Be careful.’
“Read his closing remarks when he pointed fingers at leaders,” Sexwale said.
For a party historically marred by contentious elective conferences, Mbalula envisions a future where a well-considered succession plan could mitigate internal strife.
This strategic pivot could redefine how the ANC approaches leadership transitions, focusing on unity and continuity rather than conflict.
Regarding the diplomatic fallout between the US and South Africa, Mbalula believes that political parties and civil society movements should work together to fight against the wave of misinformation.
His comments come off the back of the DA, AfriForum, and Solidarity visiting the White House. Critics have targeted the DA for its week-long trip to Washington, which included a visit to the White House.
The party claims to have used the opportunity to provide clarity regarding South Africa’s domestic land scape.
The Afrikaner groups are being investigated by the National Prosecuting Authority for treason for spreading fake news about the state of the country.
