The African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) has taken a decision to halt leadership campaigns in the run-up to its 2027 National Conference.

The party said it was gravely concerned about the activities around the so-called “PM27” campaign related to South African billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe.

Motsepe is rumoured to be positioning himself to contest the presidency of the ANC in 2027, to replace President Cyril Ramaphosa as the party leader.

The ANC said it decided to stop leadership campaigns to safeguard organisational unity and protect internal processes.

The ANC condemned the “PM27” campaign and called on all those involved to “desist immediately”.

“Any activity that seeks to prematurely mobilise for leadership positions stands in direct contradiction to this collective resolution,” said ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu.

She said the ANC was currently preparing for and contesting the upcoming local government elections.

“Our structures, deployees and members are expected to direct all energy and resources toward strengthening governance, improving service delivery, rebuilding communities, and consolidating the confidence of the electorate,” she stated.

The ANC alleged current parallel leadership campaigns were “divisive, distract from the core work of the organisation, and amount to an attempt to derail the ANC from its historic mission and responsibilities.”

She said appropriate steps would be taken to ensure adherence to the decisions of the NEC and added that the movement would not allow “ambitions to undermine organisational discipline and unity”.