ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has bluntly dismissed ongoing speculation that billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe is being positioned to lead the party.
In a candid interview, Mbalula addressed the rumors, stating, “I don’t even know if he is an ANC member.” While acknowledging that Motsepe is a financial donor to the party, Mbalula emphasized that leading the ANC requires more than that.
“If Motsepe wants to lead, he must show up on the ground so we can come face to face with him,” Mbalula said, expressing frustration with what he called unfounded media narratives. He questioned who was behind the constant speculation, which he said emerges “every Sunday.”
“These people keep saying we want Patrice Motsepe as ANC President, but I don’t even know if he is an ANC member. Yes, we eat his money; he sends it from time to time. He calls himself an ANC member.” – ANC SG Fikile Mbalula
“If Motsepe wants to lead, he must show up on the… pic.twitter.com/AdMrXSutMR
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) June 13, 2025
The remarks highlight internal party frustration over leadership speculation that appears to bypass established ANC processes. Motsepe, one of South Africa’s richest men and brother-in-law to President Cyril Ramaphosa, has been a longtime financial supporter of the ANC but has never publicly expressed a desire to run for its leadership.
Mbalula’s comments make it clear that without active, on-the-ground engagement in party structures, speculation alone will not secure anyone the ANC presidency.