Paul Shipokosa Mashatile

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)...

A senior ANC source told Africa Confidential that Mabuza fears Rossouw's book may lead to an NPA investigation and that he might be inclined in consequence to lend his support to his close ally ANC Treasurer Paul Mashatile to succeed Ramaphosa rather than bid for the presidency himself...

'The issue did not come up ' said ANC Treasurer Paul Mashatile at a media briefing...

Magashule may use his ties with ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile a one-time Ramaphosa supporter who could emerge as a challenger for the leadership...

Top sixThe top six includes Ramaphosa Mantashe Magashule who has repeatedly said that he supports indicted former President Zuma despite numerous charges of fraud and enabling of state capture Deputy President David Mabuza Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile and Deputy Secretary-General Jessie Duarte (AC Vol 60 No 12 A tale of two ANCs)...

Mabuza Mantashe and ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile are considered supportive of Ramaphosa in varying degrees while Magashule and Deputy Secretary-General Jessie Duarte a Zuma loyalist are seen as hostile...