ANC leaders Mbalula and Didiza dismiss succession speculation amid party renewal efforts

ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, and National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, have reacted to their names being thrown into the ANC leadership succession debate.

Both leaders have warned against allowing the ANC succession debate to divert South Africans, while the party prioritises its renewal programme.

Speaking to members of the media gathered at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on Wednesday, Mbalula revealed that the National General Council (NGC) of the ANC has remained firm that it would not entertain any talks on the reported leadership race.

Mbalula said the party's pre-occupation has been to drive a strong NGC that has prioritised renewal, instead of petty party politics, with President Cyril Ramaphosa firmly at the centre of the four-day NEC gathering.

This comes as talks of the potential candidates to replace Ramaphosa in 2027 have dominated public discourse ahead of the NGC.

Taking time to address her possible candidacy as Ramaphosa's favoured replacement, Didiza called for South Africans to avoid diversion tactics of the media and other speculators.

Other possible candidates for the position have included current Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Ronald Lamola, and Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who all have recently been touted as possible candidates to succeed Ramaphosa ahead of the party’s 2027 national conference.

Speaking to members of the media on the sidelines of the third day of the ANC's National General Council, currently taking place in Boksburg, Didiza called for calm, saying the party's pre-occupation at this point is about winning the upcoming local government elections.

"You know, for me, I think at times we divert from what is the core business of what we are here for. And I think now issues should be about: how do we win the 2026 election? How do we prepare ourselves to win the 2029 election? That should be uppermost to us. But also, as members of the public, I think what is uppermost is: what are these public representatives doing to change our lives for the better," she stated.

Ahead of the NGC, Mbalula slammed reports that the ANC NGC would be discussing issues related to the possible unseating of its leader.

Mbalula doubled down on this during his media briefing on Wednesday, saying the right time for the succession debate has not come. He further commended the more than 500 delegates from all the country's nine provinces for their discipline

"I do not know where you have heard that the President will be taken out. But did I tell you that such a thing will not see the light of day, given the centre that we are driving...The NGC has been highly disciplined and well organised, something that has not happened in recent times. Delegates have been highly organised and focused, and these are the green shoots of the renewal program.

Responding to his name also being mentioned among those vying for the leadership position in 2027, Mbalula stated:" I do not know anything about my name being mentioned in this debate."

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