By Celani Sikhakhane
- The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says it knows nothing about a campaign to make Zweli Mkhize ANC president in 2027.
- Social media posts and insiders suggest support is growing in KZN and the Eastern Cape.
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says it is shocked by talk of an early presidential campaign for Dr Zweli Mkhize ahead of the party’s 2027 elective conference.
A picture of Mkhize attending the inquest into the murder of ANC President General Inkosi Albert Luthuli and human rights lawyer Griffiths Mxenge at the Pietermaritzburg High Court made the rounds on social media. The post described him as the “KZN choice” for ANC president.
The Ndunduzo Memela Foundation shared the image on TikTok with the caption: “KZN is moving with Presidential candidate Zweli Mkhize.”
Scrolla.Africa has since learnt that the campaign is also being pushed in the Eastern Cape. Some backers want Mkhize to run as president, with Oscar Mabuyane as his deputy, while Fikile Mbalula should stay on as secretary-general.
But not everyone is on the same page. A provincial leader in the Eastern Cape told Scrolla.Africa that some want Mabuyane to stay as provincial chairperson and later take over as secretary-general.
“There’s another group that wants Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams as deputy president instead of Mabuyane. The province is split. Secretary Lulama Ngcukaitobi is said to be backing Ndabeni-Abrahams,” said the source.
Others are also throwing Limpopo Premier Dr Poppy Ramathuba’s name into the mix.
ANC KZN spokesperson Fanle Sibisi said the province is not aware of any campaign to back Mkhize.
“I think it’s something being done by people who want to divide the organisation. Right now, we are busy rebuilding ANC structures in KZN. We are shocked, we don’t know anything about this,” Sibisi said.
Mkhize has tried twice before. In 2017, he reportedly lost out after being betrayed by former deputy president David Mabuza. He made another attempt in 2022, but President Cyril Ramaphosa beat him.
Mkhize could not be reached for comment.
Pictured above: The picture of Dr Zweli Mkhize’s campaign for the ANC presidency ahead of the 2027 elective conference.
Image source: TikTok Nduduzo Memela Foundation
