ANTHONY BUTLER: Ramaphosa’s pick of Pandor as his deputy could pay dividends
Cyril Ramaphosa went off ANC script last weekend, giving specifics about who his Top 6 positions would comprise
ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaign for the presidency of the ANC took an intriguing turn last weekend. At a rally in Limpopo, Ramaphosa departed from the usual ANC script by suggesting specific candidates for nomination to Top 6 positions in advance of December’s elective conference. Together with the long-anticipated promotion of Gauteng chairperson Paul Mashatile, current secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, and former KwaZulu-Natal chairperson Senzo Mchunu to high office, Ramaphosa urged his supporters to nominate Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor to be his deputy. Given the political imperative to have a woman close to the top of the slate, Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has long been touted as the most likely candidate.
In some respects, the profiles of Sisulu and Pandor are similar. At the national executive committee (NEC) elections in 2012, Sisulu was the second-ranked woman (below only Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma). Pandor came a close third...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.