As things stand, President Cyril Ramaphosa appears to be in pole position to retain his position as president of the governing party.
He has been endorsed by six out of nine ANC provincial executive committees, the latest being Gauteng and the Northern Cape.
But it’s still too early to say whether he will be challenged when ANC delegates gather for their elective conference at Nasrec in December. Several of his current and former cabinet ministers have hinted they may try to unseat him.
Co-operative governance & traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was the first to openly make her intentions known.
She has the backing of her ex-husband, former president Jacob Zuma. Tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu has for the past few months been criss-crossing the country, presenting herself as an alternative to Ramaphosa.
And then there is former minister of health Zweli Mkhize, who launched his campaign in Durban this week.
Mkhize is said to enjoy the backing of most regional leaders in KwaZulu-Natal. Ramaphosa’s deputy, David Mabuza, cannot be ruled out as a dark horse in the race — but as usual, he has so far kept his cards close to his chest.
Ramaphosa’s campaign is modelled around renewing the party by dealing with those found to be on the wrong side of the law.
It is the same campaign theme he adopted before he took over from Zuma in 2017. But his tenure has been a huge disappointment to those who expected him to be a decisive president.
He has put the interests of his party ahead of the country — and tiptoed around crucial matters so as to not to create too many enemies at Luthuli House.
That has done a disservice to his promise of running a clean government and renewing the ANC. In addition, his handling of the burglary at his Phala Phala farm — where a large sum of money was stolen — has eroded public trust in his leadership.
But what do his opponents have to offer? Dlamini-Zuma supporters are campaigning on a women-empowerment ticket. They have yet to tell us what they stand for.
It is the same with Mkhize, whose campaign appears to be aimed at merely preventing a second term for Ramaphosa. His backers complain that on Ramaphosa’s watch the party’s step-aside rule has been abused to isolate opponents.
Outside the ANC, the opposition parties have not covered themselves in glory
They argue that law enforcement agencies have been used to target the president’s rivals.
They say the Ramaphosa years have been catastrophic for black business, while benefiting big business.
Mkhize, like other potential contenders, has not tabled what he stands for. The same applies to Mabuza.
Outside the ANC, the opposition parties have not covered themselves in glory either. If the chaos in metros governed by coalition governments are a taste of things to come, South Africans have much to be concerned about.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. We may be presented with more alternatives in the coming months.
After years of sending confusing messages, former DA leader Mmusi Maimane will next week launch his much anticipated political party.
Talk is that the party’s platform will include building an economy that creates jobs, fixing the education system and creating safer communities.
And then there is former Business Day editor Songezo Zibi who has created the Rivonia Circle — a project many predict is a precursor to a new political party.
Its mission statement is “to transform South Africa from a failing state into a robust, sustainable democracy that provides a better quality of life for its citizens through the realisation of progressive socioeconomic rights and a shared national vision”.
In the midst of all this, SA needs urgently to evolve towards a system in which leaders are expected to declare how they will address the myriad problems facing the country so citizens can make informed choices, rather than simply choosing popular personalities.
This applies to all parties.
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