Rumours of Patrice Motsepe’s possible entry into South Africa’s presidential race have jolted the country’s political establishment. While many view such a prospect with cautious optimism, some within the African National Congress (ANC) have responded with defensive hostility.
Chief among them is the party’s Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, whose reaction at the ANC’s Chris Hani Regional Conference on 13 June 2025 was nothing short of a political tantrum.
Referring to speculation about Motsepe’s potential candidacy, Mbalula declared, “Leading the ANC is not like leading a football club and all of that. You work for this.” This statement, clearly aimed at Motsepe who owns Mamelodi Sundowns FC and has since built a vast business empire amounts to a thinly veiled dismissal of his leadership credentials.
But in doing so, Mbalula not only mischaracterises the nature of political leadership. He also betrays the ANC’s growing insecurity about its internal decay and shrinking political relevance.
The real question we should be asking is this: What exactly does it take to lead the ANC that a man of Motsepe’s stature supposedly lacks? More specifically, what is President Cyril Ramaphosa doing at the helm of the party or the state that Motsepe could not conceivably do better?
In a previous column published on this platform (“OPINION | The case for Patrice Motsepe’s presidential bid”), long before rumours of Motsepe’s potential presidential bid emerged, I argued that South Africa needs a different kind of leader — i.e., one who is pragmatic, solutions-oriented, and driven not by ideological allegiance, but by a commitment to national renewal. Motsepe fits that bill. His track record in business — creating jobs, managing complex institutions, and attracting global capital, demonstrates a capacity for results-driven leadership that our government sorely lacks.
But this optimism comes with a crucial qualification: Motsepe cannot mount a successful reformist agenda under the ANC’s increasingly dysfunctional banner. The party is too compromised — morally, ideologically, and structurally. No matter how competent the individual, the ANC is no longer a viable vehicle for national renewal. If Motsepe is serious about contributing to South Africa’s recovery, he must forge a new path, possibly through the formation of a new political party, which will be unburdened by the ANC’s historical baggage.
That said, Mbalula’s reaction to Motsepe’s potential bid is revealing not just of his personal insecurity, but of the ANC’s broader culture of internal sabotage. His comment was not an isolated dismissal; it is part of a growing pattern. He has also recently targeted Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, another figure seen as a rising star in the political landscape. What these attacks share in common is their timing and tone: calculated attempts to pre-emptively discredit those who may outshine or outmaneuver Mbalula in the ANC’s internal succession battles.
Mbalula appears to perceive himself as the natural heir to Ramaphosa. The reader does not have to take my word on this point; the man has already announced his presidential bid by saying that “If Motsepe wants to lead, he must show up on the ground so we can come face to face with him”. But what has he actually contributed to justify this ambition?
His record in government is, at best, forgettable and, at worst, marked by mediocrity. Rather than leading with vision, he has become a gatekeeper — guarding not the public interest, but his own political turf. His role as secretary-general is increasingly defined by factionalism and fearmongering.
His paranoia is understandable. In the ANC’s internal universe where loyalty often trumps competence, any figure with an independent support base, public credibility, or national stature is a threat. Motsepe, by virtue of his success and apolitical image, poses just such a threat. The fact that he has not publicly expressed any intention to run makes Mbalula’s outburst all the more revealing — it is a reaction rooted not in fact, but in fear.
In the end, the real issue is not whether Motsepe will run, but why the mere suggestion of his candidacy provokes such vitriol. It points to a political party that no longer welcomes fresh ideas or alternative visions. It is precisely this defensiveness that has alienated the ANC from a generation of South Africans desperate for competent, ethical, and effective leadership.
Whether Motsepe enters the race or not, one thing is clear — South Africa’s next chapter cannot be written by those who fear change. It must be led by those who embrace it. – By Lehumo Sejaphala (X: @Masterndozi)
Lehumo Sejaphala holds a BA Law and LLB degree from Wits University and an LLM from the University of the Free State. He also runs an online blog platform called the Voiceless and has contributed articles to various media houses.