Ramaphosa must put his name forward like all candidates vying for ANC presidency – Mkhize

African National Congress (ANC) treasurer-general and presidential candidate, Zweli Mkhize, on Friday made his views known on the party’s so-called tradition of allowing its deputy president to automatically succeed the sitting president.

Speaking on the sidelines at the OR Tambo Memorial Lecture at the Chief Mogale Hall — where he was the keynote speaker — Mkhize said Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa would have to put his name forward for nomination just like every other candidate running for the governing party’s top spot at its December elective conference, EWN reported.

Mkhize said the ANC’s constitution stated that any member can be nominated and nominate for the presidency.

“The deputy president will be among those that are right to be considered,” said Mkhize.

Ramaphosa has been campaigning to replace the ANC’s scandal prone leader, President Jacob Zuma, along with five other presidential candidates which include former AU chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, and the speaker of parliament and ANC chairperson Baleka Mbete.

The deputy president’s supporters have argued that when Zuma steps down as party leader at the conference, Ramaphosa should be automatically elected to the post in line with the ANC’s “tradition” of conferring power to the deputy, but his rivals have disputed this.

Mkhize said at the end of the day, it was at the upcoming conference where that decision would be made.

“There is a right for all members to nominate any member. If it was as straightforward as that, there would not be a need for a conference,” he said.

#ZweliMkhize takes to the podium saying Tambo led through the most difficult times pic.twitter.com/D9DCybL6GO

— Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) October 13, 2017

Watch #ZweliMkhize talk dissolution of factions #ORTambo pic.twitter.com/QYiXBS0gJj

— Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) October 13, 2017

#ZweliMkhize takes to the podium. pic.twitter.com/qNQjpsZVpA

— #LordOfTheMedia (@samkelemaseko) October 13, 2017

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