Ramaphosa Eyes Another Term 

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa looks set to secure another five years term as leader of the country. 

Is South Africa holding an election? 

No, it is not. Ramaphosa is way ahead in the race for the leadership of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for the next five years. If the party wins the country’s next general elections, its leader will take South Africa’s top job. The result of nominations for the ANC’s top six positions announced on Tuesday showed Ramaphosa with an essentially insurmountable lead ahead of his nearest rival for the top job. 

How do they stand? 

Ramaphosa’s bid for a second term as the party’s president is being challenged by Zweli Mkhize, a former health minister who resigned during Covid-19 following corruption allegations. Ramaphosa polled 2,037 nominations from party branches, while his closest rival Mkhize polled 916. In the deputy president race, outgoing ANC treasurer general, Paul Mashtile, also leads two other contestants. With nominations out of the way, candidates will now seek party members’ votes during the party’s 55th National Elective Conference in December.