Cyril Ramaphosa been backed by the ruling party in South Africa’s richest and most populous province to succeed President Jacob Zuma.
The provincial executive of the African National Congress in Gauteng, which houses both Johannesburg and Pretoria, has sent a not to branches saying Ramaphosa its its only candidate for leadership of the party at its elective conference in December.
It’s been a turbulent week for the trade-unionist-turned-politician-turned billionaire-turned politician.
This is hardly surprising as the race hots up for leadership of the African National Congress, which will in all likelihood also mean the national presidency after the 2019 election.
Cyril Ramaphosa was tipped by 16 of the country’s top 26 political analysts to become the next ANC leader.
Five of the analysts, who come from universities, risk advisers and research institutes, say President Jacob Zuma’s ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will succeed him. Four say it was too soon to call and one says Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe will be a surprise winner.
They say Ramaphosa surging ahead because he’s declared his hand and pledged to fight corruption.
Dlamini Zuma is suffering because she’s perceived to be too close to her former husband.
Results of the analysts’ poll came before the announcement from the ANC provincial executive in Gauteng.
Ramaphosa already has the support of provincial executives in the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape – popularly known as the cradle of the ANC revolution.