Gwede Mantashe calls for Ramaphosa to be president to avoid ‘a crises’

Taking to Twitter on Sunday, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe made known his views on the succession debate in the ANC.

He made it clear that it would be in the best interests of the party to follow tradition and for President Jacob Zuma to hand over the reins to his deputy in the ANC and the republic, Cyril Ramaphosa.

It is widely understood that Zuma favours his former wife and now ANC MP Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Mantashe, who addressed the United African Apostolic Church service in Venda on Sunday, tweeted that: “We have our own problems, the church should pray for us,” before going on to make more openly political statements.

He pointed to the tradition of handover in the ANC in the past.

“When Tambo handed over to Mandela, that was smooth. Mandela handed over to Mbeki. When Mbeki resisted, there was a crises [sic].

“If President Zuma recists [sic] to handover to Deputy President Ramaphosa, there will be a crises. If that happens, there will be a crises [sic all].”

He added that his “personal advice” was that Ramaphosa, if elected, should have a female deputy president.

“That will be smooth. That is my personal advice #HeritageDay.”