A new website promoting billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe as a potential ANC presidential candidate has intensified speculation about his political ambitions ahead of the party’s 2027 elective conference .
The site, pm27.org.za, launched this week without prior announcement and carries branding that aligns Motsepe’s initials with the year of the ANC’s next leadership conference. “PM27 stands as a movement to rally South Africans behind Patrice Motsepe — a leader whose credibility, business acumen and commitment to ethical governance offer hope for true national renewal,” the website states .
Campaign Denials and Internal Discussions
Despite the website launch, Motsepe’s office has consistently denied any intention of entering politics. His spokesperson, Luxolo September, said the Confederation of African Football president had “not changed his position” and remained focused on his business and philanthropic work .
However, multiple sources indicate that discussions around Motsepe’s potential candidacy have moved beyond informal speculation into structured conversations within business and political circles . A senior government communications official and lobbyist affiliated with the South African Communist Party confirmed to the Mail & Guardian that he has formally taken on the role of head of media and public relations for the “PM27” campaign .
The campaign, described as “scenario planning” by insiders, involves consultations with provincial and business leaders and mapping support across ANC structures. “This is not about Patrice waking up one morning and wanting to be president. It is about stabilising the centre of power before the ANC implodes,” the lobbyist said .
Business Community Interest
Senior business leaders have taken note of the initiative, viewing it as a response to the ANC’s ongoing internal disputes and policy incoherence rather than an ideological endorsement of Motsepe himself. A senior banking executive said Motsepe was seen as a credible, neutral candidate who could stabilise the party and reassure investors .
His continental profile, including leadership in CAF and relationships with global investors, makes him “an acceptable interlocutor for both domestic and international stakeholders,” the executive added .
Business Unity South Africa stressed that its interest lies in stabilising the economic environment rather than influencing political outcomes. “We are not endorsing any candidate. Our concern is that leadership uncertainty in the ANC creates economic risk,” a senior Busa leader said .
Mixed Reactions Within ANC
Within the ANC, reaction to Motsepe’s potential emergence has been divided. An NEC member said Motsepe’s appeal lay in his perceived neutrality, noting that “branches are tired of leaders who arrive with factional debts” .
However, resistance remains from factions aligned with Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. “Some comrades see this as business trying to recolonise the ANC,” the source said .
A senior ANC Women’s League official questioned whether Motsepe had the political grounding to manage grassroots networks. “You cannot buy legitimacy. Leadership is built in the trenches,” she said .
Governance and Political Analysis
The speculation coincides with Motsepe’s recent transition from executive chairman to non-executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, a move officially attributed to new JSE governance rules requiring separation between board oversight and executive management .
Political analyst Professor Kgothatso Shai said besides being an ANC member, Motsepe does not have an illustrious political track record. “I won’t be surprised if he emerges as party president, hence the quality standards of leadership in our society have dropped too low. As it stands, the ANC is on the proverbial market and the highest bidder can buy it,” he told IOL .
Governance expert Sandile Swana noted that an ANC campaign in 2026 means the campaigner does not necessarily need to be visible in party structures. “You run a campaign by identifying the heads of branches, regions and provinces and give them money … Money talks here, not politics,” he said .
Potential Succession Context
The ANC is expected to hold its next leadership conference in December 2027, where delegates will elect a president and other senior officials . President Cyril Ramaphosa secured a second term as party leader in 2022 and is expected to step down, opening the field to potential successors including Mashatile and Mbalula, though formal nominations have not yet opened .
Mashatile said last year he could not confirm whether Motsepe was a branch member, stressing that aspirants must participate in party structures to contest leadership positions .
Neither Motsepe nor the ANC’s national leadership has issued an official statement confirming a campaign . Under ANC rules, candidates must be nominated by branches and vetted through formal structures before their names appear on a conference ballot .
