THE ANC Youth League has upped the ante in the ANC leadership contest and practically anointed the party's deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, as the party's future leader.
"Comrade Kgalema Motlanthe presents a brighter future of the ANC and the country (and) will always be celebrated as one of the best leaders of his generation of the ANC leadership" the ANCYL said in a birthday message to Motlanthe, who turned 62 yesterday.
"This message is a signal that they have identified Motlanthe as a suitable candidate to challenge Zuma," political analyst Elvis Masoga said.
Masoga said the message was aimed at forcing the ANC to open up the succession debate. The party leadership has argued that doing so would create divisions.
Political analyst Steven Friedman said the ANCYL was speaking on behalf of a nationalist faction within the ANC that wanted Zuma to quit.
"The league is trying to create enough talk about Motlanthe, and to build an impression that he is popular and Zuma is not. The intention is to try and persuade Zuma to step down," Friedman said.
"The league is trying to create enough talk about Motlanthe, and to build an impression that he is popular and Zuma is not. The intention is to try and persuade Zuma to step down," Friedman said.
"The ANC Youth League does not need Motlanthe's permission to do all that and he is not buying into their plan. Motlanthe is not willing to run against Zuma the way Zuma did against Thabo Mbeki.
"The nationalist faction can come up with another candidate, other than Motlanthe, to run against Zuma," Friedman said.
The ANCYL is unhappy about Zuma serving a second term as both president of the ANC and the country.
The glowing message to Motlanthe is a far cry from the league's failure to do the same for President Jacob Zuma when he celebrated his 69th birthday in April.
Yesterday ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said the league had not sent Zuma a birthday message because they were concentrating on local government elections.
"We were very busy in April concentrating on elections at that time,' he said.
Motlanthe's spokesperson, Thabo Masebe, said the deputy president would not be able to take time out to celebrate his birthday.
"It is a hectic day for him, very busy," Masebe said.
"He is attending meetings, but the staff in his office will sing a birthday song for him."
Birthday wish stokes party succession fires
THE ANC Youth League has upped the ante in the ANC leadership contest and practically anointed the party's deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, as the party's future leader.
"Comrade Kgalema Motlanthe presents a brighter future of the ANC and the country (and) will always be celebrated as one of the best leaders of his generation of the ANC leadership" the ANCYL said in a birthday message to Motlanthe, who turned 62 yesterday.
"This message is a signal that they have identified Motlanthe as a suitable candidate to challenge Zuma," political analyst Elvis Masoga said.
Masoga said the message was aimed at forcing the ANC to open up the succession debate. The party leadership has argued that doing so would create divisions.
Political analyst Steven Friedman said the ANCYL was speaking on behalf of a nationalist faction within the ANC that wanted Zuma to quit.
"The league is trying to create enough talk about Motlanthe, and to build an impression that he is popular and Zuma is not. The intention is to try and persuade Zuma to step down," Friedman said.
"The league is trying to create enough talk about Motlanthe, and to build an impression that he is popular and Zuma is not. The intention is to try and persuade Zuma to step down," Friedman said.
"The ANC Youth League does not need Motlanthe's permission to do all that and he is not buying into their plan. Motlanthe is not willing to run against Zuma the way Zuma did against Thabo Mbeki.
"The nationalist faction can come up with another candidate, other than Motlanthe, to run against Zuma," Friedman said.
The ANCYL is unhappy about Zuma serving a second term as both president of the ANC and the country.
The glowing message to Motlanthe is a far cry from the league's failure to do the same for President Jacob Zuma when he celebrated his 69th birthday in April.
Yesterday ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said the league had not sent Zuma a birthday message because they were concentrating on local government elections.
"We were very busy in April concentrating on elections at that time,' he said.
Motlanthe's spokesperson, Thabo Masebe, said the deputy president would not be able to take time out to celebrate his birthday.
"It is a hectic day for him, very busy," Masebe said.
"He is attending meetings, but the staff in his office will sing a birthday song for him."
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