Mkhize eyes another shot at ANC leadership

FORMER ANC Treasurer Dr Zweli Mkhize has availed himself for a leadership position within the party should the ANC delegates wish to see him in that role.

In a recent interview with the Cape Times’s sister publication, Isolezwe, Mkhize expressed unequivocally that he has no plans to retire from politics.

The ANC is set to convene an elective conference around 2027, and as of now, no clear frontrunner for the position of party president has emerged. Current deputy president Paul Mashatile, Senzo Mchunu, and Fikile Mbalula are already surfacing as potential contenders for the ANC presidency. Current National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza’s name has also been included in the list.

Mkhize previously vied for this role in 2022, nearly securing it before withdrawing just prior to the elections. 

His extensive political portfolio includes serving as Minister of Health and Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, among others. He is currently the chairperson of the portfolio committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. 

During the interview, he said: “I am not retiring. What the people want me to do, I will still do it.”

Support for Mkhize remains particularly strong in the Midlands region of KwaZulu-Natal. 

An ANC member from this area, said: “It will be his choice on what position he decides to contest for. Many of the power brokers in the province were mentored by him and remain closely aligned with him. Regardless of which candidates emerge in the regional conferences, most will still be inclined to support Mkhize for any position he might choose to pursue.”

However, political analyst Siyabonga Ntombela believes that Mkhize's chances of winning the top position are slim, primarily due to the lingering corruption allegations tied to the Digital Vibes scandal.

“Now, a party claiming to be on the path of renewing itself cannot afford to have someone with a dark cloud hanging over his head. However, it's the ANC we are discussing; anything is possible. Some may use these allegations to undermine him as a suitable leader.”

Professor Musa Xulu reflected on Mkhize’s prospects, saying: “Until the Digital Vibes scandal, Mkhize was politically cruising and could have been a suitable candidate for the ANC Presidency. If he enters the race now, his opponents will undoubtedly resurrect that episode, which could negatively influence party branches, especially those from outside KwaZulu-Natal.”

Xulu said the ANC required a leader untainted by recent controversies to rejuvenate their party's image.

Cape Times