The scramble for political control of Gauteng after the 2014 general elections has begun. Three candidates in the Democratic Alliance have stepped forward to battle it out for the office of premier, and indications are that the two factions of the ANC in Gauteng will be putting forward their own candidates for the position.
DA Gauteng caucus leader Jack Bloom, DA caucus leader in the City of Johannesburg, Mmusi Maimane, and little-known DA member Vaughan Reineke will challenge each other to become the party's candidate for the commercial heart of South Africa. The final decision on who will take pole position for the party will be announced on August 9.
Research by political strategist Stan Greenberg on behalf of the DA, which was released last week, found that the ANC is currently polling at 51%. The opposition party believes this shows it has a solid chance to take Gauteng in next year's elections.
Bloom, one of the longest-serving members of the Gauteng legislature, sees himself as the most experienced politician, capable of leading Africa's richest province. But Maimane's supporters say he is the most appealing candidate for the position across races.
"The DA is here to say that we can believe again," said Maimane after his nomination on Wednesday.
"I accepted your nomination because I want to make Gauteng believe again … to make Gauteng believe that everyone can have a chance at success. The 2014 election will be an historic moment. It is an opportunity for us to put Gauteng back on track. It is a chance for us to restore everyone's belief in the dream of 1994.
"What I want to do in Gauteng is simple: I want to stop corruption, stop e-tolls and create many more jobs. If we do that, we will start to make life better for the people of Gauteng.
"We will take the struggle for a better life forward. We will restore people's belief in our future."
But Bloom said this week his experience spoke for itself: "I have 22 years of experience in politics … and greater skills. I built up a reputation in health issues and in fighting corruption.
"After the 2014 elections, research shows that we are likely to have a coalition government with other opposition parties, which will need skills. I have the requisite skills."
Neither Maimane nor Bloom knew anything about Reineke, and a DA statement on his candidacy did not mention any details about him.
The social networking site LinkedIn, however, shows a Vaughan Reineke as the director of an insurance brokerage in Gauteng.
Meanwhile, indications are that the ANC, which has run Gauteng since 1994, is deeply divided over who should take the position. Rival factions are engaged in intense battles behind the scenes to push for their candidate.
A faction led by ANC provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile is pushing for provincial secretary David Makhura to replace Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane after the elections, according to a number of provincial leaders in the party. Mashatile's faction led the Forces of Change campaign for President Jacob Zuma to be replaced by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
Mokonyane's faction, on the other hand, led Zuma's re-election campaign in 2012.
Her faction is frustrated by the two centres of power and claims that the premier is unable to govern because she has to defer to Mashatile each time she has to make a high-level appointment.
The latest issue of Africa Report quoted the leader of the Gauteng South African Communist Party, Jacob Mamabolo, as saying: "The past five years of having two centres of power has made things complicated in Gauteng.
"We have found that the premier has no power to engage and we are always referred to the chairperson. She is unable to make decisions."