Gauteng Premier David Makhura says he has been approached by some ANC lobbyists to stand for the powerful position of secretary-general.
Makhura will not stand again for the position of provincial ANC chair and will vacate the premier's office when his term ends in 2024.
Speaking to the Sunday Times on Friday, Makhura confirmed that he would not make himself available as party chair in Gauteng ahead of the ANC provincial conference in June. Deputy chair and education MEC Panyaza Lesufi, and local government MEC Lebogang Maile, hope to replace him.
He was non-committal about whether he would run for suspended party secretary-general Ace Magashule's position.
“The national conference conversation hasn't started in earnest, so there may have been people who came [and said] but what about this [secretary-general position]? Let me say that my first focus is on making sure that Gauteng will come from its conference having rebuilt strong branches, regions that are more unified with a sense of how do we regain the municipalities.
“You can't do that successfully if your intention is to go [national]. I say to people we must separate. The national conference will come and go and I have been dismissing a lot of people who have been saying 'why don't you stand for this in the top six'?
“It is not in mind that question about [standing for secretary-general]," he said.
It is not ANC tradition for individuals to publicly declare their ambitions for positions before they are formally nominated by branches.
Makhura played down his own interest, saying there were other capable people in the provinces who would be suitable for the position.
“I can't give you the names because I would be starting a nomination process, which I don't want to do,” said Makhura.
He said he would complete a PhD after stepping down as Gauteng chair.
Reflecting on his term as chair, Makhura said he would not take responsibility for electoral losses which saw the ANC effectively booted from all metros.
He traced the steady decline of the province back to 2009, when the party started to dip below 60%.
“There may be something illogical in thinking that the losses are only linked to only one period and linked to only when I was the chair.” He said the party was experiencing a steady decline in the province.
Makhura was steadfast that he would step down, despite a push by a faction for him to remain in power while their preferred candidate assumes the position of deputy chair.
Insiders who spoke to the Sunday Times said a group that supports Lebogang Maile wanted Makhura to stand again as chair, which they believe would place him on a stronger footing for the secretary-general position at the party's national elective conference in December.
It is understood that they want Maile to be his deputy and ANC Ekurhuleni regional secretary TK Ngciza to be provincial secretary.
He confirmed that he was approached to stand again as chair but declined, and has instead opted to speak to factions in the province to ensure the party emerged united.
“I can't go to a conference to stand, be elected, only to go to another conference and stand for another position to be elected. I am saying politically, it is not my approach. If I make myself available to stand and be elected ... I must be available to serve that term, that is my approach,” said Makhura.
He said Gauteng needed to elect a leadership that would take it to the 2024 conference.
Makhura denied that he supported Lesufi to succeed him in the party, saying he was talking to all those who are interested in running for the position.
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