Foremost among them are ANC Treasurer General Paul Mashatile and the younger up-and coming Justice Minister Ronald Lamola who has hinted that he would consider standing for deputy if asked...

But Radebe related to Ramaphosa by marriage is understood to have thrown his hat in the ring for the ANC deputy presidency along with ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile and Justice Minister Ronald Lamola...

ANC chair Gwede Mantashe is likely to emerge as kingmaker whereas one-time hopeful Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile looks set to lose out but both are likely to retain their positions in the ANC's 'top six' officials...

A former contender for the Presidency or deputy roles with some support from both the Ramaphosa and Zuma camps Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile looks set to lose out again in any bid for the top in December...

Possible contenders are Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile a former Premier of Gauteng; Zweli Mkhize the former health minister who resigned after it was found his family benefited from a government Covid-19 communications contract; and Gwede Mantashe a Ramaphosa ally at odds with him over the rate of phasing out coal (AC Vol 62 No 22 Leaders clash over climate)...

Such a compromise candidate who could hold together the party's warring factions has not yet emerged but Africa Confidential understands that the front-runners are likely to be ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile or former health minister Zweli Mkhize with Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu or Defence Minister Thandi Modise for deputy...

ANC chair Gwede Mantashe and Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile are seen as leading contenders for Secretary-General...

How far that alliance goes however is unclear since Makhura is also close to Paul Mashatile the ANC treasurer who harbours presidential ambitions of his own (AC Vol 62 No 2 Cyril and Ace's linked fates)...

ChallengerAfrica Confidential hears that ANC National Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile a sometime Ramaphosa supporter who could yet emerge as a challenger has submitted an internal report calling for 50% job cuts at party headquarters as officials struggle to pay salaries (AC Vol 62 No 2 Cyril and Ace's linked fates)...