The African National Congress (ANC) is bracing for a potentially explosive leadership battle, with former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki rumored to be considering a run for the party's top spot in the 2027 elective conference. The move comes as the ANC grapples with declining public trust and internal divisions, following its loss of parliamentary majority in the 2024 general election.
Zuma, who was recalled from the presidency in 2008, and Mbeki, who was ousted in a similar fashion, are reportedly being courted by influential party lobbyists seeking to reverse the ANC's electoral decline. Kgalema Motlanthe, another former president, is also said to be in the mix, with some factions pushing for a Motlanthe-Patrice Motsepe ticket.
The speculation surrounding the former presidents' potential candidacies has sparked debate about the ANC's future direction and whether the return of veteran leaders can stabilize the party. However, some analysts argue that the party needs a new, pro-poor leader to realign with its liberation-era ethos.
The ANC's National General Council, scheduled for December, is expected to set the stage for the leadership contest, with various factions jostling for position. As the party navigates this critical juncture, the question on everyone's mind is: can the ANC reinvent itself and reclaim its former glory?
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