The Gauteng African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday said it had not yet started discussing names of candidates for ANC national leadership positions.
ANC provincial spokesperson Ignatius Jacobs said provincial leadership had decided earlier this year to ”focus on the principles of leadership and not on any names”.
He denied weekend reports that the province had discussed nominating businessman Tokyo Sexwale as ANC president, and Gauteng Premier and provincial ANC chairperson Mbhazima Shilowa as deputy president.
It was also reported on the weekend that Sexwale, a former Gauteng premier, told the BBC he would ”consider” nomination for the ANC presidency as he would be willing to accept any ”instruction” from the party.
The ANC is due to elect a new leadership at its national conference in December, which follows the party’s national policy conference in July.
Jacobs said the Gauteng ANC provincial general council also agreed not to discuss specific nominations.
”Delegates agreed that we should wait for the ANC NEC [national executive committee] to formally open the nominations process and that was expected to be after the national policy conference.” — Sapa