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Biggest Voting Block in South Africa’s ANC Backs Ex-Health Minister to Lead Party

Zweli Mkhize gets endorsement to challenge President Ramaphosa
Mkhize faces disqualification if charged before conference

Zweli Mkhize — Zweli Mkhize
Photographer: Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty Images

By

S'thembile Cele

September 27, 2022, 7:32 AM UTCUpdated onSeptember 27, 2022, 10:40 AM UTC

The biggest voting bloc in South Africa’s governing party picked former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize as its candidate to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa for leadership of the African National Congress.

The KwaZulu-Natal province is the first party structure to nominate someone other than Ramaphosa for the top party job before the ANC holds its five-yearly elective conference in December. Under ANC rules, the leader will be its presidential candidate in the country’s next national elections scheduled for 2024.