The PM27 Savumelana Campaign Faces ANC Scrutiny Amidst Growing Support for Patrice Motsepe

The African National Congress (ANC) finds itself grappling with an increasingly vocal and organised campaign advocating for billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe to potentially lead the party, despite explicit directives from the National Executive Committee (NEC) against premature leadership campaigning. The "PM27 Savumelana" initiative, named after Motsepe and the year of the party’s next elective conference, has moved from informal whispers to structured engagements, raising concerns within the ANC’s highest echelons about factionalism and a deviation from pressing electoral priorities.

Campaign Operations and Stated Objectives

Sources within the ANC, business circles, and political party structures confirm that Motsepe’s name has transitioned from casual speculation to more concrete discussions regarding a potential leadership bid. The Mail & Guardian visited offices reportedly linked to the PM27 Savumelana campaign in Johannesburg, where organisers were observed coordinating activities.

Ishmael Mnisi, identified as a chief campaigner for the initiative, stated that the campaign’s current focus is on bolstering the ANC’s strength ahead of upcoming local government elections. He articulated the belief that capable and stable municipalities are fundamental to improving service delivery and restoring public confidence in the governing party. According to Mnisi, the campaign’s present actions are geared towards reinforcing the ANC’s grassroots organisational capacity rather than formally campaigning for leadership positions.

"Our work at the moment is focused on helping consolidate the ANC’s support base and electoral performance across the country," Mnisi explained. He further revealed that the PM27 Savumelana campaign has already established national and provincial structures to oversee its operations. A national coordination structure comprising 24 members has been formed, spearheaded by national convenor Thulani Ngesi and secretary Ayanda Ngangelizwe. This is complemented by nine provincial coordination teams tasked with engagement and mobilisation efforts within each province.

Mnisi detailed that campaign organisers are actively engaging with ANC branches and internal party structures nationwide. The objective is to cultivate broad support for the initiative. Provincial teams are collaborating with regional and local ANC leaders to expand the campaign’s reach across both urban and rural landscapes. The campaign’s core tenets, as outlined by Mnisi, are unity within the ANC, ethical leadership, organisational renewal, and socio-economic transformation. Supporters reportedly believe that Motsepe’s extensive background in business, philanthropy, and nation-building uniquely positions him to steer the ANC through a period of renewal.

However, Mnisi stressed that the campaign will only formally mobilise behind Motsepe’s candidacy once the ANC NEC officially opens nominations in the lead-up to the 2027 conference. "The campaign is engaging ANC branches and structures across the country to build support at grassroots level. Provincial teams are also working with regional and local leaders, as the initiative gains traction among branches in both urban and rural areas," Mnisi reiterated.

Motsepe’s Position and Previous Statements

Despite the visible organisational efforts of the PM27 Savumelana campaign, Motsepe’s spokesperson, Luxolo September, has consistently maintained that the businessman remains focused on his existing responsibilities and has not expressed interest in contesting the party’s top position. "Dr Motsepe has not indicated any intention to run for leadership of the ANC," September stated.

This denial, however, has not quelled mounting speculation. The Mail & Guardian reported last month that discussions about Motsepe as a potential successor to President Cyril Ramaphosa have intensified. Four ANC sources, alongside business executives and political party officials, indicated that Motsepe’s name had moved beyond informal speculation into more structured discussions. A senior banking executive, speaking anonymously, described Motsepe as a credible, neutral candidate who could potentially stabilise the party and reassure investors during a period of economic uncertainty.

ANC’s Official Stance and Growing Frustration

The emergence and activities of the PM27 campaign have reportedly become a significant source of irritation within ANC leadership structures. The party has issued repeated warnings that leadership campaigning ahead of the 2027 conference is prohibited and risks exacerbating existing factional divisions.

In a statement released on a Monday, ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu expressed grave concern over the ongoing activities associated with the "PM27" campaign. Bhengu reiterated the NEC’s clear and principled decision that no leadership campaigns should be undertaken in the run-up to the 2027 conference. She stated that any activity aiming to prematurely mobilise for leadership positions directly contradicts this collective resolution. The ANC, she emphasised, is currently focused on the critical task of preparing for and contesting the upcoming local government elections.

"Our structures, deployees and members are expected to direct all energy and resources toward strengthening governance, improving service delivery, rebuilding communities and consolidating the confidence of the electorate," Bhengu asserted. She further argued that efforts to advance parallel leadership campaigns at this juncture are divisive, distract from the core work of the organisation, and constitute an attempt to derail the ANC from its historic mission and responsibilities.

Consequently, the ANC unequivocally condemned the "PM27" campaign and urged all involved parties to cease their activities immediately. Bhengu concluded by stating that the ANC would not permit personal ambitions to undermine organisational discipline and unity. "Appropriate steps will be taken to ensure adherence to the decisions of the NEC and to bring all members into the discipline of the organisation, in line with the constitution of the ANC and the values that have sustained it for more than a century," she added.

Historical Context and Precedents

The ANC’s stance on premature leadership campaigning is rooted in past experiences and internal resolutions. In August 2024, the NEC – the party’s highest decision-making body between national conferences – resolved that no succession debate would be entertained. This decision followed calls from some members for the dissolution of the party’s top seven leadership following the disappointing outcome of the May 2024 general elections, where the ANC’s support dropped to 40%, its lowest since 1994. This necessitated the formation of a coalition government.

At the time of the August 2024 resolution, Secretary General Fikile Mbalula had vowed to take a firm stance against those pushing for leadership discussions. "I am going to suppress them. You have never seen suppression in your life in the ANC – you are going to see that. Our preoccupation cannot be who the leader is," Mbalula had declared to journalists.

Mbalula had previously voiced concerns about speculation surrounding Motsepe as a potential ANC leader in June 2024. "Right now people are talking about a person who we don’t even know has a branch and they are saying he is going to be president of the ANC because he has money," he stated. He questioned Motsepe’s membership status, adding, "Yes, we do eat his money from time to time but there must be discipline in the ANC. If Motsepe wants to lead the ANC, let him show himself through the branches and prove that he is a member of the ANC."

More recently, in March 2024, Mbalula reaffirmed that the succession debate would only commence in 2027, leading up to the National Conference. He warned that individuals responsible for printing "PM 2027 Savumelana" T-shirts would face consequences. He vowed that such T-shirts would be confiscated and discarded if seen in ANC branches, asserting that those campaigning for Motsepe were not genuine ANC members and were diverting attention from pressing party issues. "That matter is not open now. People cannot have preferences at this stage. We should be focusing on the task of reclaiming lost ground. In 2027, the whole year, we will be talking about candidates and all of that," he said.

Mbalula indicated that he had not directly engaged Motsepe on the matter but would address those perpetuating the PM2027 campaign. He suggested that the billionaire businessman should instead focus on contributing financially to the ANC in preparation for the 2026 local government elections.

Analysis of Implications and Future Trajectory

The persistent emergence of the PM27 Savumelana campaign, despite stern warnings from the ANC leadership, highlights a potential disconnect between the party’s stated directives and the groundswell of support for alternative leadership. The campaign’s assertion that it is making "headway" and that the ANC’s irritation stems from this progress suggests a growing confidence among its organisers.

The campaign’s strategy of focusing on grassroots mobilisation and ostensibly strengthening the party for local elections, while simultaneously building support for Motsepe, presents a nuanced approach. This strategy could be interpreted as an attempt to navigate the ANC’s prohibition on direct leadership campaigning by laying the groundwork for a future bid. The acknowledgement that "voters will be familiar with Motsepe when 2029 comes" further indicates a long-term vision, potentially extending beyond the immediate 2027 conference.

The potential implications of this campaign are multifaceted. Firstly, it could deepen existing divisions within the ANC, particularly if rival factions perceive the PM27 movement as a direct threat. Secondly, the campaign’s focus on Motsepe’s business acumen and perceived neutrality resonates with a segment of the electorate and potentially within the party itself, especially in the context of economic challenges and a need for stable governance. A senior banking executive’s view of Motsepe as a candidate capable of reassuring investors underscores this aspect.

However, the ANC’s strong condemnation and threat of disciplinary action signal a determination to maintain party discipline and control over the succession narrative. The party’s emphasis on the upcoming local government elections underscores its immediate priorities, and any perceived deviation from these tasks is likely to be met with firm resistance. The tension between the campaign’s organised efforts and the ANC’s official prohibition sets the stage for a potential power struggle within the party, the ramifications of which will likely unfold in the coming months and years. The ultimate success of the PM27 Savumelana campaign will depend not only on its ability to mobilise support but also on its capacity to navigate the complex internal politics of the ANC and the party’s response to its persistent activities.