/ 16 February 2014

ANC said to be planning second deputy president position

Discussions are said to have been held in the ANC about establishing a second deputy president position
Discussions are said to have been held in the ANC about establishing a second deputy president position

The Sunday Times reported that discussions had been held within the African National Congress to promote the idea of a second deputy president. ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC national chairperson Baleka Mbete had apparently been proposed as the two candidates.

The presidency on Sunday said it was unaware of discussion about the country getting two deputy presidents after this year's elections.

"I'm not aware of any such discussion," presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj said.

Mbete told the newspaper that she had accepted nomination to become a member of Parliament, but said it was up to the ANC to decide where to deploy her.

"It is not a matter up to me. Branches of the ANC decide on people going to Parliament. What happens after that we don't know."

Ramaphosa told the Sunday Times he would not comment on his political future.

"The ANC decides. No single individual in the ANC decides what they want to do."

The Constitution only allows for one deputy president. Constitutional law expert Professor George Devenish said a constitutional amendment would have to be approved to change this provision.

ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu and Ishmael Mnisi were not immediately available to comment. – Sapa