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Daily Maverick
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
ANC succession battle — the pros and cons of the top candidates vying for Ramaphosa's job
While it is unclear who will take over from President Cyril Ramaphosa as leader of the ANC, their ability to win votes will be extremely important. It may be constructive to examine what five of the most likely candidates would bring to the electorate. As our politics becomes more competitive than ever before, the identity of the leader of each party has become more important. One of President Cyril Ramaphosa's great strengths when he became leader of the ANC was that he was more popular than the party. The ANC itself said that he played a major role in helping it win the 2019 election (this was hugely contested at the time, and the then secretary-general, Ace Magashule, was forced to publicly disavow his comment that Ramaphosa had not played an important role). Ramaphosa's deteriorating popularity among voters, partly due to his inaction against corruption, and the Phala Phala scandal, might well have played a role in the ANC's dramatic decline last year. This shows how important the vote-winning ability of a new ANC leader will be. While it is not clear who will contest the position at the ANC's electoral conference in 2027, there is plenty of well-informed speculation that candidates could include Deputy President Paul Mashatile, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and the ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula. Paul Mashatile There is little evidence that Mashatile has broad support among the electorate. His apparent inability to communicate a distinct message during his time as Deputy President suggests he is finding it difficult to create space in which to move. This could be a function of the position he holds. Deputy presidents are often subject to intense scrutiny, and people look for evidence of their ambition for the top job, which could be why he has not, so far, articulated a particular vision. Mashatile's public speeches in English are often stilted. His answers to parliamentary questions are, frankly, boring. He does not say anything new, and his delivery comes across as wooden. As a result of having no apparent message, the narrative around him is dominated by claims that he has benefited from fishy financial deals. He has failed to properly and publicly condemn the violence used by his security officers when they assaulted the occupants of a vehicle on the N1 highway. It is difficult to imagine him crafting a coherent message as the leader of the ANC. On the election trail he probably won't provide much help to the party. His position as Deputy President means he doesn't have responsibility for any particular portfolio. However, for the contenders Lamola, Ramokgopa and Mchunu, what happens on their watch reflects on their public images. Ronald Lamola The minister of international relations and cooperation is a high-profile position — but it is overshadowed by the President. In some instances, for example, SA's genocide case against Israel, Lamola has been able to take the lead. However, in the hardest and most high-profile issue, dealing with the Trump administration, Ramaphosa has taken over. What Lamola does have, almost uniquely in the ANC, is the ability to connect with younger voters. His age (41) makes him one of the youngest leaders in the party. He is relatively unscathed by the scandals that have surrounded so many people in the party. That said, if he were to undergo more scrutiny, he would have to answer questions about how his law firm failed to notice the massive corruption at the National Lotteries Commission, when it was tasked with investigating it. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa The public perception of Ramokgopa is entirely linked to load shedding. He is an excellent communicator and has ensured that he, the government and Eskom have controlled the narrative whenever load shedding is instituted. He is associated with the successes in dealing with load shedding — and also the failures. He will also appeal to voters who want a technocratic face for the ANC. He can give the impression to black professionals that he is one of them, that he speaks their language and can get things done. Sipho Mchunu Mchunu appeals to a slightly different constituency. Crucially for him and the ANC, he could win back voters in KwaZulu-Natal. This province voted for the ANC when former president Jacob Zuma was its leader, then appeared to move in the direction of the ANC and the IFP when Ramaphosa took over, only for large numbers to vote for Zuma's uMkhonto Wesizwe party in the last elections. Mchunu may well be able to develop a crucial constituency in this province for the ANC, where he was once its provincial secretary. Nationally, it would be a huge card in his favour if he were seen to be leading a successful effort to reduce violent crime. However, the problem of SA's crime is so large and is so intertwined with aspects of our politics that Mchunu is unlikely to be able to make much difference. Fikile Mbalula Mbalula, of course, is not in government. It is his position as secretary-general of the party that might give him the edge in any internal ANC race. In the past, the position of secretary-general has been shaped by the personality occupying it. Gwede Mantashe imbued the office with huge authority, while Kgalema Motlanthe had more of a quiet legitimacy. Lately, Mbalula has appeared to be trying to portray more of a sober appearance than in previous years. However, it is unlikely that voters have forgotten what happened when he was transport minister and how he was responsible for so many missteps. As previously pointed out, Mbalula has a history of running his mouth off. People are unlikely to have forgotten how he tweeted that he had 'Just landed in Ukraine', or that he had taken Prasa into administration with no legal authority to do so, or that he used such vulgar language when talking to taxi drivers that the SA Council of Churches was moved to to make a public comment. Or that he was found by a Public Protector to have received a paid holiday from a sporting goods chain while minister of sport. These are the consequences of his long history in the public eye. It is unlikely that he can change the way the public views him. While it would be entirely rational to assume that ANC delegates would have the 2029 elections in mind when they vote for the position of ANC leader, history shows that sometimes internal dynamics are more important. And the ANC appears to have done virtually nothing to win back votes since the polls last year. This suggests that the electability of candidates will not be the most important factor in the ANC's leadership election. DM
ABC News
5 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
SA First Nations communities ‘waiting, prepared' to restart treaty process
South Australian First Nations leaders say their communities are waiting to restart treaty talks with the state government after an election promise, but the minister in charge says he is "not keen to rush" the process. Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kyam Maher told ABC News that the state government was still committed to restarting treaty negotiations in SA, but it was unlikely any agreements would be signed before the next election in nine months' time. "We're not keen to rush it," he said. "I don't want to put a time on it, but one thing I am quite certain: We won't see treaties concluded before the next state election. SA Labor entered government in 2022 promising to spend more than $2 million to restart the treaty process over its "first four years". The pledge formed part of a broader policy commitment to implement the three requests of the Uluru Statement from the Heart — Voice, Treaty and Truth. While SA became the first jurisdiction in the country to legislate a state-based Voice to Parliament in 2023, the government is yet to announce how or when it will establish treaty or a truth-telling process. "We've started work on what that (treaty and truth) might look like, what's happened both in Australia and overseas, and we will continue with that," Mr Maher said. "I have had some discussions with the South Australian state First Nations Voice and we will continue those discussions. "The elected Voice won't be the body we'll negotiate with, but (we're) certainly keen to get a perspective about, in the current environment, how we continue with both truth and treaty and sequencing those." It has not been a smooth journey towards treaty in SA. Discussions officially started in 2016, when the state government set aside $4.4 million over five years towards the treaty process, as well as the appointment of an independent commissioner to consult communities. Two years later, the state government and Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation signed the Buthera Agreement, which committed both parties to negotiate on a treaty. But the former Liberal government halted treaty discussions just months later, with then premier Steven Marshall describing the agreements as "more divisive than helpful". One of the South Australian signatories to the Uluru Statement, Melissa Clarke, disagreed, and said treaties could benefit everyone. "It is about, as Aboriginal people, being Aboriginal people on our own land, in our rightful place with our unique, precious strengths and views and values," the Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Wirangu woman said. "We share, we give, we don't take away. "Treaty is about restoring balance in this country for everybody." Ms Clarke said she believed the time was right to restart treaty talks with communities, describing the government's "lack of progress" on negotiations as "disappointing". "What we need is for governments to listen and act, to provide a safe and welcoming space for us to be able to have those conversations. "We are sitting here waiting, prepared to commence these negotiations." SA Native Title Services CEO Keith Thomas said he believed the government had taken a "cautious" approach to treaty after South Australians overwhelmingly rejected a constitutionally-enshrined Voice to Parliament at the 2023 referendum. He said while many members of the Aboriginal community were "surprised" by the referendum result, he believed the community was now "ready" to restart treaty discussions, citing stronger native title, heritage and water rights as potential outcomes. "I think there has to be recognition from the state government about the growth in native title bodies in South Australia," he said. "We have legislation from the 1960s around the Aboriginal Lands Trust, which is keeping land safe for Aboriginal people. "That legislation has done its job, they (the government) should be giving those lands back to Traditional Owners now, and that could be part of a treaty process." Mr Thomas said South Australia could take inspiration from Victoria's nation-leading treaty model. The eastern state has, under legislation, allowed Aboriginal Victorians to negotiate statewide or local treaties with the government, with Dja Dja Wurrung traditional owners already notifying the state's independent treaty authority of their intention to do so. Mr Thomas said he believed a statewide treaty was the best path forward for SA. "It should be a state treaty between the Aboriginal nations and the state, looking at all the groups involved (and) not separating or having one against another," he said. But Ms Clarke said she believed individual nations should also have the option of negotiating their own treaties. "Each nation has different customs, beliefs, worldviews, languages," she said. "Each nation has their own unique needs for their own families and communities." Mr Maher said the government was considering the Victorian model, as well as treaties in Canada and New Zealand.
IOL News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Predicted lineups for Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC in CAF Champions League final 2025
Here are the latest predicted lineups and key stats for the CAF Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC. Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC will lock horns once more in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final, in Cairo, on Sunday evening. Kick-off is 7pm SA time. Sundowns drew 1-1 with Pyramids last week at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, as the visitors bagged a crucial away goal. Previously, in four two-legged finals involving a South African club which failed to win the first leg at home, only once has a comeback been pulled off. That of course came 30 years ago when Orlando Pirates drew 2-2 at home and then beat ASEC Mimosa 1-0 away in the return leg.
IOL News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Pyramids FC: Predicted lineups for CAF Champions League final 2025
THE CHOSEN XI Here are the latest predicted lineups and key stats for the CAF Champions League final between Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC. Picture: Itumeleng English/Independent Media Mamelodi Sundowns and Pyramids FC will lock horns once more in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final, in Cairo, on Sunday evening. Kick-off is 7pm SA time. Sundowns drew 1-1 with Pyramids last week at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, as the visitors bagged a crucial away goal. Previously, in four two-legged finals involving a South African club which failed to win the first leg at home, only once has a comeback been pulled off. That of course came 30 years ago when Orlando Pirates drew 2-2 at home and then beat ASEC Mimosa 1-0 away in the return leg.
The Citizen
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Young Koekemoer has a bright future ahead after helping South Africa to gold
Leendert Koekemoer's maturity that helped South Africa win the men's 4x400m gold medal at the World Athletics (WA) Relay Championships in China was replaced by a youthful exuberance when the national relay teams touched down at OR Tambo International Airport on May 14. The 400m sensation and his teammates were welcomed with fanfare after the men's 4×100 m and 4x400m clinched gold medals. The women's 4×400 m got a bronze, as South Africa ended the competition at the top of the medal standings. The 18-year-old will jet off to Tokyo for the WA Championships in September after the teams qualified for the competition. Koekemoer shone in the final with a blistering third leg. Botswana had a slight advantage over South Africa when he received the baton. He found his footing, running the second fastest split of 44.23 to finish strongly to give anchor, Zakithi Nene, the easy job of securing the gold. 'It was fantastic. I did not go to the relays to run a fast time. I just wanted to give the baton to Zakithi first. The time came by itself. I did not realise it until the end,' he said. Sharing his experience as the youngest member in the team, the Dalview resident thanked his seniors for taking him in and showing him the ropes. 'I had a wonderful experience. It was my first time out of the country. All the senior guys helped me. They invited me in. They helped me with this and that. It was a pleasant experience.' Koekemoer first showed glimpses of his potential two years ago when he won the national U18 400m title in 46.38. However, injuries affected his progress last year. He returned strong this year, starting with a blistering 45.96 at the Wildeklawer TUT Top 14 in January, dipping under 46 seconds for the first time. He has since broken the 46-second barrier three more times, including breaking the SA U20 record when he ran 45.03 at the ASA senior track and field championships in Pochefstroom last month, smashing Riaan Dempers' 31-year-old record. Growing up in Brakpan, the Helpmekaar Kollege matriculant never envisaged he would enjoy so much success in the sport he loves this early in his career. 'I always wanted to run, but did not know I could run this well. If not for my parents, coach Lindi du Plessis and training partner Lythe Pillay, I would not be here. I want to keep my head in the game. The 400m is a very mental race. You must know the lactic will come at the end,' Koekemoer. Pillay, a former national 400m champion from Brentwood Park, is a role model for Koekemoer, who described Pillay's significant influence on his career. 'I started training with Lythe when I was in Grade Eight. I have been with him my whole career. I trained every 400m session with him. If not for him pushing me, I would not be here. He is a role model and someone you can look up to.' Also Read: Pillay on course to defend title at nationals Also Read: Pillay wins gold in one-lap dash at U20 World Championships At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
