Mokonyane's candidacy for ANC presidency causes rift within party

ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane finds herself potentially at odds with the party’s leadership after publicly declaring her candidacy as president for the ANC’s 2027 elective conference.

- MASHUDU SADIKE

This pronouncement directly contravenes a directive from top ANC officials advising members against making such declarations until after next year’s local government elections.

Mokonyane's declaration, made during a recent interview, has sent ripples of discontent through Luthuli House, the ANC’s headquarters.

A senior member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), who wished to remain anonymous, expressed the sentiment of many within the party.

"What you do on the left you have to do on the right... the DSG would have to face the music... and apologise to the party as this was stressed at our previous NEC meeting that we cannot be making pronouncements like that... at least not yet,” the NEC member said.