Former Western Cape premier and ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool has been approached by party members to take over the reins as ANC chairman in the province, he says.
Rasool told the Sunday Times that several "comrades" had tried to persuade him to make himself available to succeed Marius Fransman, who was booted out of the position after being found guilty of sexual harassment by the party's internal disciplinary structures.
Rasool was recently appointed as the ANC's head of elections in the Western Cape to try to improve the party's chances of wresting control from the DA in next year's elections.
"People have come to me and said: '[Can you] combine the two posts?' Being an interim leader of the party as well as heading the elections.
They make compelling cases about why that would solve two problems."It would solve a problem of having a face of the elections as well as prevent a battle that would spoil things for the ANC," said Rasool.
But he expressed reluctance about standing for the position, citing his commitment as head of elections as one of the reasons.
In a letter dated May 31, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule instructed the province to hold a provincial general council to elect a chairperson.
Western Cape provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs confirmed that the party wanted to hold the council in August.
Rasool said he was enjoying his current job as there were a lot of people who trusted him, even those who have not liked him in the past, because they believe he is not in it simply to hold down a post.
"I am not sure that it is worthwhile compromising the effectiveness of the elections campaign by having to manage the internal affairs of the ANC," he said.
ANC insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity as they are not authorised to speak on the matter, said Rasool's supporters saw him as a frontrunner owing to his popularity in the province.
"He is certainly the more popular person. People respect Rasool," said an insider.
Should he decide to enter the race, Rasool could be expected to square off against two members of the provincial legislature, Richard Dyantyi and Cameron Dugmore.Former Western Cape legislature speaker and current ambassador to Syria Shaun Byneveldt is also expected to make himself available for the position.
Also being mentioned as a possible candidate is Rasool's former opponent, Rural Development and Land Reform Deputy Minister Mcebisi Skwatsha.
But an insider close to Skwatsha said: "He may have a hand in this but he is not interested."
The source revealed Skwatsha was instead hoping to be co-opted onto the ANC national executive committee.
The squabbles between Rasool and Skwatsha are largely blamed for the ANC having lost power to the DA in the province.
Skwatsha, Dyantyi and Byneveldt could not be reached for comment.
Dugmore said he was willing to serve in any position the ANC branches elected him to...