We hear that the party's Radical Economic Transformation (RET) faction which supports Zuma may back another KZN heavyweight Zweli Mkhize who resigned as Health Minister last year after corruption allegations relating to a State Covid communications contract...

Possible contenders are Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile a former Premier of Gauteng; Zweli Mkhize the former health minister who resigned after it was found his family benefited from a government Covid-19 communications contract; and Gwede Mantashe a Ramaphosa ally at odds with him over the rate of phasing out coal (AC Vol 62 No 22 Leaders clash over climate)...

Such a compromise candidate who could hold together the party's warring factions has not yet emerged but Africa Confidential understands that the front-runners are likely to be ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile or former health minister Zweli Mkhize with Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu or Defence Minister Thandi Modise for deputy...

Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla was promoted to replace Health Minister Zweli Mkhize who is facing a personal corruption scandal...

Meanwhile Health Minister Zweli Mkhize who stepped aside following corruption allegations involving a communications contract has been implicated in a new report and is unlikely to return to his post or stay in the cabinet (AC Vol 62 No 12 More time for the truth & AC Vol 61 No 8 Heroes and villains in the pandemic)...

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on 8 May that he would be going on voluntary leave after a press campaign had raised questions about a lucrative contract for a communications company involving staff close to him and a member of his family...

That could see Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize moved to Minister in the Presidency or to Mining and Energy...

Before the new attempt by Magashule and Zuma to break the Ramaphosa presidency a proxy presidential succession battle was taking place behind the scenes between Dlamini-Zuma and Health Minister Zweli Mkhize...

As a result there are no vaccines available and no clear sign of when sufficient quantities will be despite a grand-sounding vaccine roll-out plan hurriedly announced by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize in early January as criticism of the government's inaction mounted...