Speculation around Thoko Didiza's candidacy for ANC leadership

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has been mentioned as one of the leaders who might be lobbied to contest the ANC presidency at the next elective conference, in which President Cyril Ramaphosa will step down.

According to an ANC regional leader in KwaZulu-Natal, who attended the party’s National General Council (NGC) in Johannesburg recently, some ANC delegates unofficially indicated that they might nominate Didiza to contest the party’s highest position. 

“Since she is the Speaker at the National Assembly, obviously, she would be able to replace Ramaphosa and be sympathetic towards him after he had left the office,” said the regional leader.

He said the ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula blocked the succession debate when some delegates attempted to raise it at the NGC gathering. 

“But as a member of the structures of the ANC and as regional chairperson of the ANC, I know this thing,” said the leader.  

The ANC is expected to hold its next elective conference in 2027, which would mark the official end of Ramaphosa’s tenure. 

Others who have been seen as potential successors to Ramaphosa include former Health minister Zweli Mkhize, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Mbalula, and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. 

Another ANC regional leader, who is not mandated to speak to the media, said after several unsuccessful attempts to convince Lesufi to contest the presidential position, some party leaders felt that Didiza might be an alternative candidate.

There are others within the ANC who are eyeing the Mamelodi Sundowns FC boss, Patrice Motsepe, as a potential candidate. 

Mbalula had, on the sidelines of the NGC held in Gauteng this week, announced the disbandment of the KwaZulu-Natal ANC’s Provincial Task Team (PTT), which he accused of failing to rebuild ANC branches in the province. 

Despite being weakened by the formation of former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party, party leaders still believed that KwaZulu-Natal was still the ANC’s biggest province in terms of support. 

As a result, the regional leader said senior ANC leaders want a new leader of the PTT to be willing to lobby for Didiza’s nomination.

“They are going to appoint Jomo Sibiya (Employment and Labour deputy minister) to lead the yet to be established PTT, hoping that he would be able to lobby for Didiza. 

“I know that Ramaphosa and Gwede wanted Senzo Mchunu to be the president, but they have since abandoned him. 

“Since Sibiya is Ramaphosa’s right-hand man, they trust that by putting him as the leader of the PTT, KZN would be decisive in terms of making the decision they are looking for.

“Even Sihle Zikalala (Public Works and Infrastructure deputy minister, who is a former premier) might come back to join the PTT,” he said.  

Mchunu’s presidential ambitions were dashed when he was forced to take special leave as Police Minister after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi implicated him in allegations of police impropriety and collusion with criminal syndicates.

The allegations are currently being investigated by the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee. 

If nominated, Didiza would be the third woman to throw the hat into the ring after the former African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and former Tourism minister’s unsuccessful attempts against Ramaphosa in 2017.

The leader said Mbalula also stands a good chance since ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe was looking forward to retirement.

“The person we trusted to be able to change the ANC was Panyaza, but he has not indicated whether he would contest, which is why we are now looking at Didiza,” he said.

It was reported that when Mbalula rose to address NGC delegates, a song 'Sifuna unobala one content' (we are looking for a strong secretary-general) erupted, with Ramaphosa and his deputy, Paul Mashatile, joining in.

EFF leader Julius Malema interpreted this during the interview with SAFM’s The National Pulse host, Ashraf Garda, during the week, as a sign that Mbalula was gaining popularity with the ANC branches.

The delegate said: “This happened, but you must be aware that people (delegates) would say something they don’t really mean. I know for sure that Ramaphosa is backing Thoko Didiza. 

“You cannot trust Mbalula because he is known for saying this today, and waking up tomorrow saying something else.”

However, another regional leader, who also attended the NGC, rejected the possibility of the NEC appointing Sibiya, saying this was not discussed in the NGC and never even heard delegates gossiping about it. 

“Why should it be Jomo? I am here in Johannesburg (attending the NGC), but I never heard that.

“I can tell you now, with everything I know in the ANC, there is nothing like that,” said the delegate.  

Mkhize is currently in trouble with the Special Investigating Unit’s Special Tribunal, which accused him of having participated in the unlawful R150 million Digital Vibes contract while he was the Department of Health minister. 

University of KwaZulu-Natal political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu said Mkhize still enjoys some support. 

However, he's not a popular figure, and he lacks charisma. 

“The fact that Mkhize and Didiza are from KZN would further complicate and divide the ANC in KZN,” said Ndlovu.

Another political analyst, Professor Sipho Seepe, said Mkhize’s political career was still complicated by the Digital Vibes matter.

“At the moment, Ramaphosa got away with Phala Phala, meaning Zweli can also get away with the PPE (Digital Vibes) scandal,” said Seepe.  

bongani.hans@inl.co.za