ANC national chairperson Baleka Mbete has distanced herself from media reports that she has entered the race to succeed President Jacob Zuma as party president.<\/p>\n
Mbete appeared to be the third high-profile figure to throw her hat into the succession ring after a Sunday Times report said she had been “approached” by a number of NEC members to run.<\/p>\n
However, the current Speaker of Parliament told 702 Radio on Tuesday that she had not “raised her hand” publicly for the position, because she was not yet allowed to do so.<\/p>\n
She said the ANC’s national working committee had decided this week that leadership pronouncements were premature and needed to be stopped.<\/p>\n
“We cannot have discussion on air about a process that has not been sanctioned [yet] by the ANC,” she told the radio station.<\/p>\n
“The ANC has not opened discussion for people to say things in detail about these matters.”<\/p>\n
The Sunday Times report said that Mbete had “agonised for a long time” after being approached, and had decided to make herself available for the job.<\/p>\n
Mbete admitted that she had been approached to run, but it was not yet time for her to announce her intentions publicly.<\/p>\n
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and outgoing AU chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma are the other high profile names linked to the contest for the top job.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa said in 2016 that he was “available to stand” as party president, and has been endorsed by Cosatu.<\/p>\n
The ANC Women’s League, meanwhile, formally backed Dlamini-Zuma following its first NEC meeting earlier this month, saying she was the “only suitable candidate” at this point to be the party’s first female president.<\/p>\n
Mbete said she was not disappointed by the ANC Women’s League formal endorsement of Dlamini-Zuma, but was “surprised”.<\/p>\n