South African billionaire says it is dangerous for him to run for ANC president

Billionaire Tokyo Sexwale said he is confident he can serve as president, but that running for the ANC’s top spot carries tremendous risk for him.

Sexwale shared his views on speculation that he was considering running for ANC president during an interview on the SMWX podcast.

Last month, the Mail & Guardian reported that Sexwale has emerged as a possible contender to succeed party president Cyril Ramaphosa in 2027.

The Mail & Guardian reported that structures in KwaZulu-Natal are leading a push to bring him back into active party leadership.

“A lobby group, Tokyo/Mvela Perspective, has produced a discussion document that it intends to submit to stimulate internal debate on succession,” it said.

It argues that Sexwale has the necessary qualifications for the role, including struggle credentials, governance experience, ethical standing, and strategic insight.

The group added that Sexwale represented a bridge between the ANC’s foundational values and the demands of a modern democratic state.

Responding to this speculation, Sexwale said that his answer was no. “I appreciate what people are saying, but it is too dangerous under these circumstances,” he said.

“It may ultimately be worthless. It may offer no reward. I am not looking for personal power or personal glory. That is not what government is about.”

“As it stands right now, to throw me into that environment is dangerous. I don’t see any assurances, only sacrifices that could destroy everything we stood for.”

He said his strength will be to assist whoever is good enough for the ANC to put forward for the presidential position.

“I will be one of the people supporting them. I think I will be stronger in that role. That is how I feel,” Sexwale said.

Tokyo Sexwale is confident he can do the job

Sexwale said he did not know who threw his hat into the ring as a candidate for the ANC presidency, but acknowledged that many people had contacted him about it.

He said that he can definitely be the South African President. However, whether he wants to be president is a different question.

“Can I do that job? Of course I can. I have done this type of job before. Do I want to choose it now? My hands are full,” he said.

“I have done this job as the premier of a province that produces 42% of South Africa’s GDP, and I held this province tight with my team, never losing half a penny,” he said.

“Then I was appointed as a national minister. The only thing I have not been is the president of the country.”

He added that the big question regarding becoming the South African President is with whom you govern and who put you there.

“In South Africa, you have to go through the 4,000 delegates of the ANC. I did that at the Durban conference and was defeated hands down,” he said.

“Maybe if we were talking about the 60 million South Africans, I could consider something like that.”

He explained that the ANC’s electoral policy means you depend on 4,000 delegates. “The ANC is so fractured today that they cannot agree on anything,” he said.

“If you are going to be a product of that conference process, it is a serious risk for my country and for my organisation.”

“I am not going to risk my neck for something where I know I will just become a prisoner of opportunistic factions and tendencies.”

“Those who put my name forward need to consider these things. Parliament simply chooses whoever the ANC puts there.”

He added that the ANC’s problems are evident in the cities, which are falling apart, and in the protests in the villages.

*Headline image credit: Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh