On the first day of the conference ANC chair Gwede Mantashe had to intervene on several occasions to stop the KZN faction from disrupting the proceedings by singing pro-Zuma songs...

There is also concern over challenges to Ramaphosa's energy policy from Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe his erstwhile ally who failed to implement a previous emergency energy plan...

These include two Ramaphosa allies: Gwede Mantashe Minister of Minerals and Energy and ANC chair and Zizi Kodwa deputy minister of state security...

The biggest headache for Ramaphosa is his erstwhile fellow Mineworkers Union ally and Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe who currently serves as the ANC chair in the top six...

We hear the only discordant note at Cutifani's well-attended farewell party in Cape Town on 24 March was from Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe who said the Anglo boss had broken promises to remain headquartered in South Africa...

The project would be based at the Eastern Cape port terminal of Coega which is in the home territory of ANC chair and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe who has been accused of malfeasance by Judge Raymond Zondo's state capture commission...

AwkwardPart three of the commission report published on 1 March has put Ramaphosa in an awkward position after it found that Gwede Mantashe energy minister and chair of the ANC benefited from controversial security company Bosasa which paid to upgrade security at three of his properties when he was the ANC secretary-general...

Mashatile has called on the top six leaders of the ANC – except for Ramaphosa and party chairman Gwede Mantashe – to relinquish their positions ahead of December's elective conference to open opportunities for others including women such as former deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Zulu contenders such as Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu...

ANC chair Gwede Mantashe is likely to emerge as kingmaker whereas one-time hopeful Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile looks set to lose out but both are likely to retain their positions in the ANC's 'top six' officials...