Business Day
*Race is on for top six ANC leadership positions**Riaan Wolmarans, Natasha Marrian and Karl Gernetzky, Business Day, 17 December 2012*
THE race to lead the African National Congress (ANC) is officially on between incumbent Jacob Zuma and his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe.
Nominations for the party's top six leadership positions were announced and finalised on Monday at the governing party's Mangaung elective conference.
Although Mr Zuma and Mr Motlanthe's candidacy for the top job was expected, proceedings took an unexpected twist when Mr Motlanthe withdrew from nominations for the post of deputy president.
Delegates will now have to choose between Mathews Phosa (the current treasurer-general), Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and multimillionaire businessman Cyril Ramaphosa for that position. Baleka Mbete, the current ANC chairwoman, declined nomination.
Some media reports on Monday had said Mr Ramaphosa decided not to stand, though he had already confirmed to BDlive on Sunday that he would.
Mr Motlanthe was nominated by three ANC provinces --- Gauteng, the Western Cape and Limpopo --- as well as the ANC Youth League to replace Mr Zuma. Should he not win the presidency, he will no longer be one of the ANC's top six leaders.
Secretary-general Gwede Mantashe is being challenged for his position by Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula, a former ANC Youth League leader.
After the nominations had been announced, Mr Mbalula said he was "not confident" of a win, but his decision to stand was about "honouring organisational democracy" and recognising the courage of those who had nominated him.
Up for the position of national chairperson are Ms Mbete and Thandi Modise, premier of the North West. Senior leader Thenjiwe Mtintso declined nomination and Ace Magashule, chairman of the Free State ANC until his executive was disbanded at the weekend following a court ruling last week, withdrew.
Nominated for deputy secretary-general were ANC spokeswoman Jessie Duarte, Mr Mbalula (who declined), Ms Modise (who withdrew), Ms Mtintso (also declined) and national executive committee member Phoebe Potgieter (declined). There will therefore be no voting for this post, though Ms Duarte will only be officially announced as the winner along with the other positions when voting is finished.
Delegates will choose a new treasurer-general between Paul Mashatile, the Gauteng ANC chairman and national minister of arts and culture, and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize.
*From: **http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/politics/2012/12/17/race-is-on-for-top-six-anc-leadership-positions*
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