SACP says it has not endorsed anyone for leadership of ANC

The SACP was reacting to reports which suggested that it had endorsed deputy president of the ANC Cyril Ramaphosa for ANC president.

“The SACP has not endorsed any individual leader’s name for the leadership of the ANC‚” the SACP said in a statement.

• Succession fever grips ANCThe ANC will have to ask itself difficult questions if it does not elect its deputy president to succeed the party's president, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said yesterday. 

The party said in its last augmented central committee statement released on December 16‚ it openly presented its position on ANC succession in no uncertain terms.

“Rather than simply focusing on names of those who should be elected as ANC President‚ other office bearers and National Executive Committee members‚ there has to be a consideration of the criteria for effective leadership‚” the December 16 statement said.

• Mantashe tries to put out fire sparked by leadership struggleIt is going to be long year for ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe as he tries to put out a fire that is growing by the week. 

It also said a key consideration would be the capacity of a leader and leadership collective to avoid being factionalist and unite the ANC‚ the alliance and the historical support base of the organisation’s liberation struggle.

The party said it would leave the election of ANC leadership to ANC members within the framework of ANC rules and processes.