Business tycoon Tokyo Sexwale said he would ”consider” nomination for the African National Congress presidency at the party’s December conference should he be asked to stand, the Sunday Times reported.
Speaking on Hard Talk, a BBC programme to be aired on Sunday, Sexwale told presenter Stephen Sackur that he would be willing to accept any ”instruction” from the ANC.
Sexwale said he would not accept nomination to play down the legacy of former state president Nelson Mandela.
”I will never be nominated to represent tribalism, regionalism, or racism. I should understand what the nomination is about,” said Sexwale.
”I need to know that the nomination is about building a good South Africa, that we go forward with what we have started. … I will apply my mind and my answer will be very clear”.
Sexwale (53) quit his post as Gauteng premier in 1998 to start the Mvelaphanda empire.
He told the BBC he had been deployed there to provide leadership in the business world and that he would return to the ANC if he was told to ”come back”.
In January when the Sunday Times reported of Sexwale being approached to run for presidency he dismissed the reports as ”kite-flying”.
”We seem to be entering an extended silly season of wild reporting about the presidential succession stakes,” he said at the time. – Sapa