Mantashe withdraws from ANC succession race

ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe has formally ruled himself out of the party’s looming succession race, a move that subtly reshapes the contest for the ANC’s top leadership positions. Speaking on Tuesday, Mantashe dismissed recent speculation that he was preparing a late entry into the race, saying he had no intention of standing for any position at the ANC’s 2027 national conference.

His withdrawal removes one of the party’s most seasoned and polarising figures from the field, narrowing the options for factions searching for a unifying candidate. Mantashe insisted his decision was rooted in principle, not political pressure, noting that leadership renewal should mean fresh faces, not recycled elders making last-minute bids for power.

Political analysts say his exit could consolidate the positions of emerging contenders, particularly those currently serving in government or occupying strong provincial bases. It also reduces uncertainty within the ANC’s internal balance of forces, as some feared a late Mantashe bid might fragment support or revive old factional battles.

For now, Mantashe appears focused on completing his organisational duties and stabilising the party’s internal machinery. But his departure from the succession race marks a symbolic shift: one of the ANC’s long-standing power brokers is stepping back at a moment when the party faces the most complex leadership transition in its modern history.