In what could propel President Cyril Ramaphosa to a second term as ANC leader, the party’s branches from across the country have overwhelmingly nominated him to contest the top position at the upcoming ANC elective conference.

According to the results announced by ANC electoral committee chairperson, former president Kgalema Motlanthe, on Tuesday, Ramaphosa was nominated by 2 037 party branches across the country while his rival former health minister Zweli Mkhize received 916 nominations.

Both Ramaphosa and Mkhize have qualified to contest the ANC presidency while their other rivals – including former AU chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu – could not get enough nominations to qualify as candidates.

The nominations results show that KZN – which is the home province of Mkhize – will have two candidates contesting for the ANC’s top six leadership positions.

This is after former ANC KZN provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli, who received 1225 nominations, qualified to contest the party’s senior position.

The KZN ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) which endorsed Mkhize, had opted to back Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle for the ANC secretary general position, instead of Ntuli.

While Masualle received 889 nominations, he has also qualified to contest the ANC secretary general position.

Motlanthe, who did not release nomination results per province, said candidates who did not get enough branch nominations still had an opportunity to be nominated from the floor.

According to ANC conference guidelines, delegates at the conference were allowed to nominate a candidate from the floor.

For candidates nominated from the floor to make it into the ballot, 25% of the conference delegates should vote for them.

The ANC national elective conference, which will be held at Johannesburg’s Nasrec Expo Centre, will take place between December 16-20.

The full list of the candidates who qualified to contest ANC top positions is as follows:

ANC president

• Cyril Ramaphosa
• Zweli Mkhize

ANC deputy president

• Paul Mashatile
• Ronald Lamola
• Oscar Mabuyane

ANC national chairperson

• Stanley Mathabatha
• Gwede Mantashe
• David Masondo

ANC secretary general

• Mdumiseni Ntuli
• Phumulo Masualle
• Fikile Mbalula

ANC deputy secretary

• Nomvula Mokonyane
• Febe Potgieter

Treasurer general

• Bejani Chauke
• Pule Mabe
• Mzwandile Masina