Motsepe 'backs' Panyaza Lesufi for ANC's top job

Billionaire and long-time ANC donor Patrice Motsepe appears to have thrown his weight behind  Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi as the preferred successor to party president Cyril Ramaphosa. 

“South Africa does not need a rich man to be president. There are so many people in this country who are incredible. Enormously talented,” he said, before singling out Lesufi. 

“Let me start with Panyaza. He is the premier of Gauteng, and that job is a calling. If you are a mayor of a city or a town, you have a duty to the people that you lead, but you also have a duty to the almighty because there are things that you may do that people don’t see.”

Motsepe emphasised the gravitas of political leadership, particularly at the highest office. 

“So make sure when you sleep at night, you are absolutely convinced that everything you are doing is proper, fair, just, and ethical. Being president of a country is sacrosanct. It's holy,” he added.

He made the remarks during  a recent SANEF fundraiser gala dinner. Motsepe's remarks also dispelled earlier rumours that he himself might contest the ANC presidency.

The ANC has not yet opened the process for succession, although there have been a number of slates being shared on social media.  

One such list, widely circulated on social media, positions Lesufi as the top candidate to replace Ramaphosa. 

This slate proposes International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola as his deputy, with ANC veteran Jeff Radebe tipped for the chairperson position.

Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba is envisioned as the party’s secretary-general, deputised by Zuko Godlimpi and ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji, while embattled former finance minister Malusi Gigaba is said to manage the party’s finances as treasurer.

Contrastingly, another emerging slate sees Deputy President Paul Mashatile as the presidential candidate, with Fikile Mbalula as his deputy. 

The debate around succession has been a thorny issue within the ANC. Recently, Lamola called for the lifting of the ban on succession debates, arguing that party structures should be allowed to discuss the qualities of leaders they desire, albeit without immediately naming individuals.

However, Mbalula has repeatedly cautioned party members against premature discussions about Ramaphosa’s successor. His warnings have been consistent, urging members to wait until Luthuli House drafts guidelines on leadership “issues and processes”.

“The process of nomination is when you now open it up for structures to nominate an individual to lead, which is led by the electoral commission, but before that process, there is a need for ANC structures to debate on the succession debate and say, 'these are the type of leaders we want to see in this epoch', and not personalise it as it is happening now so that we can have an honest conversation,” Mbalula initially said.

Despite his own potential presidential ambitions, Mbalula reiterated his warning to all ANC structures – the National Executive Committee (NEC), Provincial Executive Committees (PECs), Regional Executive Committees (RECs), and other party members – against engaging in early succession talks.

He described such discussions as a divisive narrative and a “mischievous effort” aimed at distracting the leadership from the crucial tasks of renewal and reversing the party’s electoral misfortunes.

The ANC lost its majority during the 2024 national elections when, for the first time, its support was reduced to 40%. Thanks to the establishment of the Government of National Unity, it now finds itself having to govern with the help of other parties. 

Cape Times