At a meeting of religious and traditional leaders at the home of former minister of health Zweli Mkhize, the message that came out was that they “would really like it” if Mkhize contested “for the ANC presidential seat”.
The group leaders visited Mkhize at his home in Willowfontein, Pietermaritzburg, for what they described as a prayer meeting to “strengthen” him. This is according to an editorial in the Sunday Times by editor S’thembiso Msomi.
According to Msomi, Mkhize is on the campaign trail. This is obvious not only from the Willowfontein prayer meeting but from many other public ANC gatherings in KwaZulu-Natal at which he has appeared as the main speaker. ‘Soon, one hears, he’ll be doing the rounds in the Eastern Cape.’
Mkhize does not criticise president Cyril Ramaphosa, and the events he addresses are organised by formal ANC structures.
In Msomi’s view, Mkhize seems to want to secure his election as one of the national office bearers in the ANC top six in December.
‘If he succeeds, this will once again make him one of the most powerful officials in the party — he served as ANC national treasurer between 2014 and 2017 — but it will also put him within reach of the top job once the current president goes.’
Although ANC structures in KwaZulu-Natal gave Mkhize the cold shoulder when he vied for the party presidency in 2017, they now seem desperate to put a leader from the province into the top six in December.
ANC structures in KwaZulu-Natal believe the province’s influence in the party has waned because they have no representation at that level. The only debate is whether they should back Mkhize or water & sanitation minister Senzo Mchunu, a close ally of Ramaphosa’s.
Mkhize would still have to survive the Digital Vibes scandal.