20100922
africanews

By Marius Bosch and Peroshni Govender

JOHANNESBURG/DURBAN (Reuters) - South Africa's ruling ANC elects a new leader in 2012 but positioning for the country's top job has already begun with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe seen as favourite.

Although the question of who will become the next party leader -- and almost certainly South African president in 2014 -- is not on the agenda of the ANC's week-long policy review National General Council this week, African National Congress officials and party sources say lobbying has already started.

ANC officials say it is unlikely that President Jacob Zuma would be elected for a second term as leader of the party that has ruled South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994.

He has alienated the two blocs that helped push him to power -- the powerful COSATU labour federation and the ANC Youth League with labour calling its relations with the party dysfunctional.

Zuma's colourful personal life and lingering reports of cronyism could also further rule out a second term.

"We knew Zuma came with baggage but what we didn't expect was the open abuse (cronyism)," one senior party official said.

ANC officials have privately expressed dismay over a recent black empowerment deal in which black investors -- including Zuma's 28-year-old son and businessmen linked to the president -- bought a 26 percent stake worth over 9 billion rand in steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa.

COSATU and the ANC Youth League also criticised the deal.