Patrice Motsepe endorses Lesufi for ANC presidency, shaking up 2027 race

Confederation of African Football (CAF) president and billionaire, Patrice Motsepe, has ignited a fresh wave of speculation within the ANC by publicly endorsing Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi as the preferred successor to party president Cyril Ramaphosa. 

The endorsement, made at a recent SANEF fundraiser gala dinner, has sent ripples through the party, particularly as slates begin to emerge ahead of the crucial 2027 elective conference, seemingly overlooking figures like Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.

Motsepe's remarks also dispelled earlier rumours that he himself might contest the ANC presidency.

“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, words that many have interpreted as a direct character endorsement for Lesufi.

This high-profile backing comes at a time when the ANC grapples with internal divisions and a significant decline in electoral support, having lost its majority for the first time in the May 29 national and provincial elections, garnering less than 40% of the vote. 

This unprecedented loss forced the party into a Government of National Unity (GNU).

In the turbulent run-up to the 2027 conference, various slates are beginning to emerge. 

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.

He further emphasised the party's need for a structured approach.

“The ANC has also reached that stage now that the issue of succession can no longer be left to nature... when you wait for the nomination process and see who will be nominated. In the past, the ANC had a way where the elders guided the process.

“The structures themselves don’t engage in debates of leadership, but we know when we see the leaks that there are platforms where this issue of leadership is being engaged, so the structures need to guide this process.”

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.

mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za