Ramaphosa joins succession race

Johannesburg – Businessman Cyril Ramaphosa has joined the African National Congress (ANC) presidential succession race, reported the Sunday Times.

The ANC’s OR Tambo district in the Eastern Cape formally stated that it would nominate Ramaphosa for the presidency. The OR Tambo district, which incorporates Port St Johns and Ntabankulu is one of the party’s most powerful regions.Regional secretary Mlamli Siyakholwa told the weekly that ‘we have been lobbying Ramaphosa, I must admit’.Siyakholwa said Ramaphosa had been approached as a unifying candidate in the interests of the party’s unity.This was so as to avoid a divisive battle between President Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.While the region is pro-Zuma the provincial leadership’s stance is that Mbeki should serve a third term as ANC president.”It is not because we do not want JZ (Zuma) any more.We feel that with the serious contestation of KwaZulu-Natal strongly in support of Zuma and Eastern Cape strongly in support of Mbeki, the ANC will suffer if either of these two comrades wins,” said Siyakholwa.Ramaphosa is said to be receptive to the views.Nampa-SapaThe OR Tambo district, which incorporates Port St Johns and Ntabankulu is one of the party’s most powerful regions.Regional secretary Mlamli Siyakholwa told the weekly that ‘we have been lobbying Ramaphosa, I must admit’.Siyakholwa said Ramaphosa had been approached as a unifying candidate in the interests of the party’s unity.This was so as to avoid a divisive battle between President Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.While the region is pro-Zuma the provincial leadership’s stance is that Mbeki should serve a third term as ANC president.”It is not because we do not want JZ (Zuma) any more.We feel that with the serious contestation of KwaZulu-Natal strongly in support of Zuma and Eastern Cape strongly in support of Mbeki, the ANC will suffer if either of these two comrades wins,” said Siyakholwa.Ramaphosa is said to be receptive to the views.Nampa-Sapa