Tokyo "available" for ANC president

[duncan drennan]

I managed to find some articles on IOL,

• No ANC leader nominates himself: ANCYL
• ANC officials want campaigning rules altered
• Sexwale considering presidency race - report
• SA's presidency race heats up

There seems to be general unhappiness around him announcing his "availability" which seems to be construed as campaigning (which appears to be frowned upon � unless you are Jacob Zuma that is). From the ANCYL (the real authorities)

"People are nominated by structures of the ANC, they don't avail themselves," Mbalula told reporters in Johannesburg.

"No leader of the ANC can nominate himself. It is not the nature of the ANC."

From No ANC leader nominates himself: ANCYL

Sexwale was indirectly chastised by ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe for using TV as a way of campaigning.

From ANC officials want campaigning rules altered

One of the interesting things here is the Motlanthe is apparently one of the possible candidates.

I'm just happy that there appears to be at least one person who seems to be open and candid. I don't really understand the internal politics of the ANC, which seem to be intent on keeping as many people in the dark as possible.

[Dave A]

From the ANCYL (the real authorities)

Oh that was so good.

At the very least it's really bad form to "nominate" yourself. But publicly declaring you're open to nomination is not much different from whisper campaigning for a nomination in the hallways. And please, that goes on all the time.

No surprise that the ANCYL had an allergic reaction. They're pro-Zuma and would waste no time in undermining any meaningful competition.

As to whether this is meaningful competition, I'm wondering how far Tokyo may have drifted from the core movers and shakers. There seems to be a fair amount of unhappiness about those that hopped out of politics and into business. And now hopping back into the political mainstream - for the top post no less. It's going to be interesting.