Despite African National Congress (ANC) comments to the contrary, businessman Tokyo Sexwale has confirmed that he is being lobbied for the post of party president, South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported on Tuesday.
Lobbying would be followed by nominations and Sexwale said he would want to know why he was wanted.
”If you nominate me I will want to know why. It’s only fair to explain why,” he told the broadcaster.
The Gauteng ANC on Tuesday said it had not yet started discussing names of candidates for ANC national leadership positions.
The party’s provincial spokesperson, Ignatius Jacobs, said Gauteng’s 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 Sexwale as ANC president.
ANC Youth League President Fikile Mbalula said only President Thabo Mbeki and ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma’s names had been nominated by some party structures.
Sexwale further told the broadcaster: ”I’m not desperate for a job. I’m not desperate to be president of the party or South Africa. It’s a job that comes with a lot of problems and pressures. It’s onerous, it’s not a nice job. On a light-hearted note it’s also a job where you take a salary cut. It’s a job I would do without having to take that salary.”
He described himself as a ”disciplined and committed member” of the ANC.
Sexwale (53) quit his post as Gauteng premier in 1998 to start the Mvelaphanda business empire.
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. — Sapa