STRONG CONTENDER:

the ratings agency Moody’s was awaiting Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba’s maiden Budget speech in February. Last month it placed SA on review for a downgrade to junk status, while S&P and Fitch downgraded the country to sub-investment level.

Khumalo said of the conference procedure: “The campaigning is divided into three phases. First you go to churches and business people and lobby them; secondly, you go to the branches; and thirdly, it’s the main one, the conference.”

Dlamini Zuma and Ramaphosa have tasted defeat at previous ANC elective conferences.

From 1994, when the ANC held its elective conference in Bloemfontein, Ramaphosa was widely regarded as Mandela’s anointed to succeed him, but Mbeki landed the top post unopposed in 1999 when Mandela stepped down.

Despite this, Ramaphosa stayed on the ANC national executive committee, the party’s highest decision-making body.

In 2007, during the turbulent Polokwane conference, Dlamini Zuma was nominated on Mbeki’s slate as secretary-general. She lost to the incumbent, Mantashe, and also stayed on with the national executive committee.

Although seven candidates have been nominated for the position, it is now a two-horse race, with the others, Lindiwe Sisulu, Jeff Radebe, Zweli Mkhize, Baleka Mbete and Mathews Phosa not receiving a single nomination from any province.

But they could still be in the mix if they are nominated from the floor and secure at least 25% seconders at the conference.