For many outside the ANC, news that Bejani Chauke had emerged as the branches’ favourite to assume the role of the party’s treasurer-general at the party’s electoral conference starting this week, may have come as a surprise.

Chauke’s rivals for the position, ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe and most recently former Ekurhuleni mayor and regional leader Mzwandile Masina, enjoy greater media prominence that he does...