As the ANC tries to formulate a game plan ahead of next year’s elective conference, the question of who is going to take over from President Jacob Zuma is getting some serious airtime.
Trade union federation Cosatu – which was part of the tripartite alliance with the ANC and the South African Communist Party – made its big “we support Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa” announcement this week.
This was quickly followed by the ANC’s Women’s League, who came out guns blazing in favour of a woman leading the country.
“As the women’s league, we still maintain that the country is ready for a female president,” secretary general Meokho Matuba told News24.
The league also said it was “premature” for Cosatu to endorse Ramaphosa.
And today the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa slammed Cosatu’s backing of Ramaphosa.
City Press readers responded to our Twitter question today: Who would you back?
The answers came back overwhelmingly in support of Ramaphosa, with 67% of those who suggested a candidate going for the deputy president.
@City_Press @_cosatu @ANCWomensLeague From unionist to billionaire Ramaphosa He knows how to manage business Should know to manage SA
— Ina Marais (@InaMarais3) November 25, 2016
@City_Press @_cosatu @ANCWomensLeague Ramaphosa must lead ANC the Zuma camp must fall.
— Reodollar (@reagismall) November 25, 2016
@City_Press @_cosatu @ANCWomensLeague This country is not a zuma zupta family affair. Ramaphosa. We waited too long for him to come in
— Louis (@louisrantshu) November 25, 2016
Lesser of two evils. Ramaphosa https://t.co/wXKMoJyjiw
— Mageza ngo bisi (@MABENGI1) November 25, 2016
National executive committee member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s hat was also thrown into the ring:
@City_Press I back Nkosazana Zuma things can change for the better
— Sam g Ngwenya (@SamgNgwenya2) November 25, 2016
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was also mentioned:
@City_Press @Hlengi Why leave early out an honest man like Pravin Gordhan. He is presidential and skeleton free
— Kgala Ramusi (@KRamusi) November 25, 2016
And then there were those who didn’t add to the list of names, but who still got involved in the conversation:
@city_press @_cosatu @ancwomensleague zuma was a very bad idea and is now a massive liability. Choose wisely this time please
— mkhululi mhlamga (@MMhlamga) November 25, 2016
@city_press @_cosatu @ancwomensleague #Cosatu and everybody else should ask themselves does Ramaphosa hav our best interest at heart ???
— Ariel CandyMan (@mambotjie_) November 25, 2016