ANC
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is weighing a bid for a top-seven ANC leadership position, signalling the quiet but steady rise of the 2027 succession race. Sources say he is in talks with Speaker Thoko Didiza over a possible leadership slate as internal lobbying within the party gains pace.
Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa is emerging as one of the key figures in the ANC’s early succession discussions, with senior party insiders confirming that he is actively exploring a bid for a top-seven leadership position ahead of the 2027 national conference.
According to high-level sources, Ramokgopa has been in discreet talks with National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza about the possibility of forming a joint leadership slate. While no formal campaign has begun, their names have increasingly appeared in internal conversations as branches and provincial structures begin shaping early conference preferences.
The move marks one of the clearest signs yet that the ANC’s succession race is quietly gaining momentum. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to step down as party leader when his term concludes in 2027, opening up a leadership contest that is already drawing interest from several senior figures.
Ramokgopa, who has risen to national prominence through his work in the energy portfolio, is seen by supporters as a younger, modernising figure with both executive experience and internal credibility. They point to his work on infrastructure investment and his role in government’s energy reforms as examples of his technocratic strengths.
However analysts say a successful bid will require Ramokgopa to build strong alliances across provinces, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, which traditionally hold significant influence over conference outcomes. It is also unclear whether existing factional groupings will embrace a slate that includes Didiza, despite her stature and long-standing experience in government and the ANC.
The succession picture is further complicated by reports that other senior figures are positioning themselves for leadership roles. This includes those linked to Deputy President Paul Mashatile as well as provincial heavyweights exploring their own pathways to the top seven.
For now, Ramokgopa has not publicly confirmed his intentions, and his office has declined to comment on internal party processes. But behind closed doors, the discussions are well under way and are expected to intensify as the ANC approaches its 2026 policy conference, a key staging point for leadership debates.
With the party navigating electoral pressure, coalition uncertainty and governance challenges, the outcome of the 2027 conference will shape not only the ANC’s future but also the country’s broader political direction.
