Cabinet ministers such as public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan trade and industry minister Ebrahim Patel and foreign minister Naledi Pandor are all old Ramaphosa allies but they were not elected on to the NEC so have limited clout in the party...

At the beginning of the week South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor hosted her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov giving him a platform to applaud what he called Pretoria's 'well balanced' and 'considerate approach' towards Moscow on Ukraine (AC Vol 64 No 2 Moscow's goals are global not local)...

British officials have had good relations with Ramaphosa and Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor but have struggled to boost ties with the governing African National Congress...

Militants in the African National Congress Youth League had denounced Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor's earlier call for Moscow to withdraw its troops from Ukraine (AC Vol 63 No 5 Moscow invasion strains bilateral ties)...

Western countries were surprised by South Africa's condemnation of the invasion and a call for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine issued by Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor (Dispatches 28/02/22 Moscow and Washington step up diplomatic fight over Ukraine war)...

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa who is the incoming chairman of the Troika of the SADC Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation is to attend with Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula...

Here are the key players in the team: Cabinet Ministerial allies are: Tito Mboweni Finance; Pravin Gordhan Public Enterprises; Ronald Lamola Justice and Correctional Services; Senzo Mchunu Public Service and Administration; Naledi Pandor International Relations and Cooperation; Thokozile Didiza Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development; Barbara Creecy Environment Forestry and Fisheries; Zizi Kodwa Deputy State Security; and Khumbudzo Ntshavheni Small Business Development...

Meanwhile another group – comprising Pravin Gordhan Public Enterprise; Naledi Pandor International Relations and Cooperation; Bheki Cele Police; Gwede Mantashe Minerals and Energy – are heading for retirement either after the ANC elective congress or the 2024 general elections...