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Who Will Lead the ANC After Ramaphosa? Inside the Party’s Quiet Succession Storm
The calm before a political shift
The African National Congress may insist that everything is business as usual, but behind the scenes, a major political transition is quietly taking shape. With President Cyril Ramaphosa expected to step down within the next few years, speculation over who could lead the governing party next has begun to dominate conversations both inside the movement and across South Africa.
This week, the focus at the ANC National General Council gathering in Ekurhuleni was supposed to be on reviewing the party’s performance and strengthening its role in the Government of National Unity. Instead, attention shifted to whispers of the future and who might step up when 2027 arrives.
Familiar names, fresh ambitions
Deputy President Paul Mashatile and ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula are currently the names most frequently mentioned as possible successors to Ramaphosa. Both carry considerable political weight and represent different ideological corners within the party.
Yet a new contender has entered the picture. National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has attracted attention after reports suggested that senior ANC leaders, including the president himself, see her as a viable leadership figure. Though her previous mayoral bid in Tshwane collapsed after the ANC lost the city in 2016, Didiza’s calm presence and experience in government have positioned her as one to watch.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa are also said to be exploring their options. Their growing profiles signal that the leadership race is far from settled.
A leadership race in denial
Top officials continue to push back against claims that factions are regrouping. They insist the party must focus on stabilising the GNU after its weakest national election performance since 1994.
Second Deputy Secretary General Moropene Ramokgopa dismissed talk of a contest entirely. She reminded members that leadership changes happen only at scheduled five-year conferences and that the current priority is regaining voter confidence ahead of local elections.
Other senior leaders have echoed that view. Gwede Mantashe has ruled himself out, citing age and retirement plans. And many believe debates about ambition should wait until the hard work of governance shows real results.
The shadow of scandal
Succession conversations also come during a delicate period for the party. Senzo Mchunu, once believed to be Ramaphosa’s preferred successor, is currently on special leave due to serious allegations related to interference in the police and justice system. Although he denies wrongdoing, the investigations have reshaped the leadership landscape.
Political analysts suggest that the wide field of potential contenders shows internal uncertainty about who can truly lead the party forward. There is a growing belief that none of the names currently circulating have emerged as the complete package South Africans are searching for.
2027: continuity or a turning point?
Many South Africans are watching closely. The ANC’s leadership choices have real effects on the economy, energy security, and national confidence. With the GNU requiring steady cooperation among former rivals and coalition politics now part of everyday reality, the stakes are high.
For now, those tipped for the top are attempting to appear focused on service delivery rather than self-advancement. But the countdown has begun. And the road to 2027 seems certain to test unity, ego, and the party’s capacity to reinvent itself in a changing political climate.
The ANC insists there is no race. Yet the silence between the official statements tells its own story.
Also read: Alliance Tension Rises as SACP Rejects ANC Push to End Dual Membership
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: SABC News
