Who do you think will be next president of the ANC?

[Dave A]

Another article from M&G adding grist to the mill.

South African President Thabo Mbeki is facing mounting threats to his widely perceived plan to retain influence after he stands down as head of state.

The presidential succession debate has already plunged the African National Congress (ANC) into some of its worst factional turmoil since it led South Africa from apartheid to multiracial elections in 1994.

Now Mbeki -- accused by critics of promoting big business at the expense of the poor -- faces a direct challenge from provincial ANC branches pushing to remove him from the party's leadership race.

South Africa's Constitution forbids Mbeki from serving as president for a third term when his current stint ends in 2009.

But many political analysts believe he will go for a new term to remain head of the ANC at its congress in December.

This would give him a big say on who becomes the next national president and thereby set South Africa's political agenda for years to come.

And near the end of the article

Mbeki's critics accuse him of undermining democracy by personally appointing provincial premiers, a view shared by Sipho Seepe, a director of the Graduate Institute of Management and Technology.

But Seepe says the struggle between the methodical Mbeki and Zuma, a man who is banking on grassroots support, is not really about democracy. Rather, it highlights a political problem in the country 13 years after its first all-race elections.

"People back politicians because they like them not because they have the qualifications. South African politics need to evolve into a merit system."

The latest party manoeuvring could open the door for a compromise candidate to lead the ANC with former political prisoner and multimillionaire businessman Tokyo Sexwale saying he could be a contender.
full story from M&G here

[Debbiedle]

My question is whether this poll result shows a wish list rather than a real contender? I personally think Sexwale is a VERY viable candidate from a business perspective?

[duncan drennan]

My question is whether this poll result shows a wish list rather than a real contender? I personally think Sexwale is a VERY viable candidate from a business perspective?

I think the voting would show that a lot of people visiting here think the same way.

What I was trying to get at (originally) was who people think is most likely to be the next ANC president.

[Dave A]

And my vote, for the time being, stays firmly in my pocket - because at this point I've got absolutely no idea.

[duncan drennan]

And my vote, for the time being, stays firmly in my pocket - because at this point I've got absolutely no idea.

Just like the rest of the nation.....

[duncan drennan]

When will the nominations be made?

[Ann Williams]

Why I polled for Ms Zuma

I've polled for our erstwhile former health minister.... Not because she is my ideal candidate (I would like to see our current Education minister in the top sport personally), but because I think she would make a great puppet for Mbeki who can stay in the background for another four years and then go for the top job again - all the while still keeping things firmly under control.

[duncan drennan]

Ante up!

Well, Thabs has thrown his hat into the ring this weekend, which has confirmed the whisperings,

But he said on Saturday he could stand for leader of the ANC if the party asked, a move that would split power between the presidency and the party for the first time, and give Mbeki a major say in how South Africa is run for years to come.

"Mbeki throws his hat into the ring," the Sunday Independent newspaper said, noting that the succession battle is now wide open with at least two other candidates -- ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma and politician-turned-tycoon Tokyo Sexwale -- already openly campaigning for the job.

Full story on M&G Online

[duncan drennan]

deputy president Sexwale?

Now we have rumours of both Mbeki and Zuma offering Sexwale a place as the deputy president, but I think more important is that there might be a shift within the ANC to get away from a divided party. Who knows...December is coming...

Presidential hopeful Tokyo Sexwale’s last-minute campaign in the succession race is gaining momentum and is said to be rattling both the Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma camps, which are preparing to barter with Sexwale.

With the formal nomination process that opened this week, all three candidates are seeing shifts in their support. Mbeki’s support in the ANC has dwindled, say sources in the Sexwale camp, as a result of “strategic blunders”, such as the suspension of National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Vusi Pikoli.

Zuma, although seemingly favoured by the membership audit of the party, is bound to be affected by the judgement in the Constitutional Court against his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik. The NPA says the judgement clears one more hurdle in its path to prosecuting Zuma.

Sources in the Sexwale camp say talks are taking place between Sexwale and members of both the Mbeki and Zuma camps, with both offering him the position of deputy president.

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Since Sexwale began campaigning five months ago, the former Gauteng premier has been trying to convince ANC members that his “third way” is what the divided party needs.

Sexwale supporters say ordinary ANC members in branches are beginning to see the dangers in the factionalism dividing the party.

They say the Sexwale option is the only one that could get the movement on the right track again.

Read the full article on M&G Online

[Dave A]

Do political marriages involve lebola?

[duncan drennan]

Yes, but maybe a better term would be rollover rolova

[Marq]

Do political marriages involve lebola?

I would guess yes, only it involves Pigs with wings instead of cows.

[Marq]

I think you should open the poll up to allow for other options.

I can think of two guys off hand that are up for promotion - Truman Prince and Robert McBride. Then there's the Drunk Judge oh and then there's also Judge Hlope - been given the thumbs up by his peers and what about Terror - he must have an in there.

Long odds I know but a good bookie would look at them.

A while back (month or so) there was clairvoyant on TV telling us that the new leader would come out of the rank and file. Not currently known he will make his mark as a voice for the people and will be a strong well balanced individual who will sort this political stuff out for once and for all.

My votes for him!

[Dave A]

Given the apparent polarisation within the party, the prospects for a compromise candidate are probably better than usual.

I can see lots more news on this over the coming weeks.

[duncan drennan]

Nominations are starting to pop up now, and it seems the dark horse is receiving all the attention....

Cyril Ramaphosa has been formally nominated to lead the African National Congress, media reports said on Monday -- though the businessman has maintained he is not interested in the position.

Full article on M&G Online