If you want to succeed deputy president David Mabuza as ANC chairman in Mpumalanga, you better ask your wife or girlfriend first.

This is the advice given by Desmond Moela, Collen Maine's deputy at the ANC Youth League, to those in the running for the post.

Moela told delegates at the youth league's regional conference in Ehlanzeni, Mpumalanga, that many of the candidates for the ANC provincial chair cannot even run their homesteads and yet now want to run the province.

"We hear there are a lot of people who are busy saying "bayaphakama" (they are campaigning) to be chairperson of the ANC. We want leaders who will take the organisation to greater heights. Some of those busy availing themselves cannot even run their homes or manage their girlfriends.

"I think people must start asking their wives if they can rise to lead. The women at home will tell some to just sit down because they can't lead their homes, what about the organisation then," said Moela.

The ANC in the province plans to hold a general council meeting where Mabuza's replacement and a new deputy chairperson would be elected.

The post of deputy chair became vacant when Violet Siwela was elected ANC's national executive committee member.

Acting chairperson of the ANC in Mpumalanga, Mandla Ndlovu, told Sowetan that the provincial general council (PGC) is to be held soon to finalise the logistics.

Some of the candidates vying for the position of chairperson include corporative governance and traditional affairs head, Peter Nyoni; former Mabuza's deputy, David Dube; Ndlovu and the recently endorsed Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtsweni.