TERM LIMITS
ANTHONY BUTLER: An ANC leadership contest replete with a sense of déjà vu
‘Zuma’s power, like Mbeki’s a decade ago, is ebbing away rapidly — we all know it will soon end conclusively’
Picture this. It is barely the end of March and citizens are already wearying of the political year. The ANC has just released discussion documents in advance of the mid-year policy conference. Rumours abound that the ANC president is plotting to retain control of the movement after its elective conference in December. Number One has not challenged the constitutional two-term limit for the state presidency, but supporters believe he should serve a third term in Luthuli House. His camp has indicated that Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, whose "seniority" derives from her high profile in international affairs, would be the logical candidate to take over the state presidency in two years. Behind the scenes, entrepreneurs in the president’s patronage network are deeply concerned about the prospect of leadership turnover. But the choice of the ANC’s deputy president was reportedly the president’s own, and he is confident he can crush his deputy’s hopes of succession when the time is right. Meanwh...
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