Mantashe rules himself out of ANC succession race

ANC Chairperson Gwede Mantashe has ruled himself out of the party’s succession battle, stating frankly that he is “too old.”

The 70-year-old politician was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the ANC’s 5th National General Council (NGC), being held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.

The NGC acts as a midterm review of the party’s performance since its last elective conference in 2022. While the NGC is not an elective conference, it has historically been used as a barometer for members with leadership aspirations to check their support on the ground.

Glimpses of this were seen last night when one of the rumoured presidential hopefuls, Fikile Mbalula, was given a long-standing ovation by the delegates after delivering the midterm report.

Mantashe, however, says the NGC is not the platform for leadership talks.

“People will put their names in the hat, they want to be elected, but that is premature at this point in time. The time for that will come, and I can tell you I am not going to be available, I’m old, I’m more than 70-years, I’m a retiree.”

The current term of the ANC leadership, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, expires in 2027.