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.

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He was greeted with loud cheers and enthusiasm by tens of thousands of people in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium where his the ANC faces a neck-and-neck battle battle in what was once a stronghold.

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Projecting a resolutely upbeat image, President Jacob Zuma  did a lap around the stadium upon entry to greet the crowd.

There were an estimated 30,000 people present, far short of the 110 000 that party spokesperson Zizi Kodwa promised would attend.

Zuma assured them that a vote for the ANC would be a vote for the constitution.

The the highest court in the  land has declared Zuma flouted the constitution by failing to heed the Public Protector’s directive to pay back public money spend on non-security upgrades to his private home.

ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa explained that  the stadium wasn’t filled to capacity was because the 4,000 buses laid on by the party left late from different areas of the Eastern Cape. A member of the ANC provincial executive committee in the Eastern Cape blamed the ANC head office for failing to pay for transport on time.

The Nelson Mandela Bay metro is a focal point for the upcoming local elections.

The ANC has been losing support to the opposition Democratic Alliance in the area where it once buried its leaders because they it was regarded  as home.

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