South Africa's human settlements minister, Lindiwe Sisulu accepted the nomination to run for president of the South African ruling party, ANC, according to South Africa's media. At least six branches of the ANC have nominated Sisulu as leader and she has publicly accepted the state broadcaster SABC reported.
Several women's league from regions in the Eastern Cape of the country endorsed Sisulu stating her experience in public service and politics as bargaining chip. Sisulu, a veteran cabinet minister and a member of a family that along with the Mandelas were among the most prominent in the struggle against apartheid, joins a crowded race to succeed President Jacob Zuma as ANC leader in December, when he steps down as leader of the party.
ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and former AU Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma have equally joined the fray and appear to be the front runners in the race to replace Zuma. ANC national chairperson Baleka Mbete has indicated interest to run in the December scheduled contest to look for Zuma's successor.
Mbete, the most senior woman official in the ANC leadership hierarchy and its chairperson for nearly a decade, said she was ready to lead the party too. "I think it would be odd if I was to reject a nomination by branches of the ANC, by delegates of the ANC,” she said.
“Yes, I have always been a person ready for any job by the ANC. I didn't encourage my people who were already telling me that they wanted to nominate me. I said to them, 'No, it is not yet time.' Of course, now it is after the policy conference … I am ready,” she said.
