ANC race intensifying, provincial chairman quashes conference claims and pledges loyalty to provincial mandate
By: JN Reporter
The African National Congress (ANC)’s Northern Cape Chairman, Zamani Saul, has finally addressed swirling speculation about his alleged bid for the organisation’s secretary-general position, decisively shutting down claims that he is eyeing the powerful post ahead of the party’s highly anticipated national conference next year.
Addressing the party’s provincial Lekgotla last weekend, Saul dismissed claims of a leadership bid, insisting his focus remains firmly on his current mandate in the province rather than national ambitions. “I am going nowhere!” Saul declared, making it “very clear” that he intends to complete the task entrusted to him when he was re-elected last year — leading the province into the upcoming local government elections and the 2029 national elections.
Talks of an early conference in the Northern Cape and me getting elected into the National Executive Committee (NEC) are just hot air. It will never happen because I have a mandate here which I am not going to abandon, up until the bitter end,” he said. His remarks come amid intensifying internal succession debates, with lobbying efforts gaining momentum and fresh polling pointing to a wide-open contest for top leadership positions.
Speculation that billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe could enter the ANC presidential race has also resurfaced, despite his repeated denials.
Branded T-shirts bearing the slogan “PM27 Savu melana” have fuelled talk of a possible campaign ahead of the elective conference.
Motsepe, a mining magnate, philanthropist, and continental sports leader, is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s most influential figures. Should he enter the race, he is expected to face competition from current Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Meanwhile, Saul issued a stern warning against factionalism within the province. He urged delegates to isolate and expose anyone seeking to divide the party, stressing that unity in the Northern Cape is “sacrosanct” and must be protected at all costs.
He cautioned that without unity, the ANC would struggle to compete effectively in this year’s local government elections
