Ramaphosa's allies – including heavyweights like secretary-general hopeful Fikile Mbalula current party chair Gwede Mantashe and deputy presidential nominee Senzo Mchunu – lost out badly in the branches (AC Vol 63 No 22 Ramaphosa names his party allies)...

Discontent over the multiple powerful positions accumulated by African National Congress Secretary-General Paul Mashatile was behind President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision not to make him his running mate and to opt instead for Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu Africa Confidential understands...

An insider described Duma and other influential young leaders as ‘Senzo Mchunu and Zweli Mkhize's boys'...

The other KZN candidates for possible inclusion are Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma – who was narrowly beaten by Ramaphosa for the leadership in 2017 – and Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu a Ramaphosa loyalist who was narrowly beaten by Magashule in 2017...

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...

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...

Also from KwaZulu-Natal is Senzo Mchunu who is closer to Ramaphosa so would work better as Minister in the Presidency...

Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu who narrowly lost the ANC Secretary-General position to Magashule in 2019 might be moved to State Security Minister to clean-up the intelligence services controlled by Zuma's acolytes...

Senzo Mchunu Ramaphosa's chief ally on the organising side of the party lost the secretary-generalship to Magashule in 2018 but was then appointed head of party organising and campaigns to be the eyes and ears of Ramaphosa in the party...

Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu a close Ramaphosa ally warned in a notice to provinces and municipalities as far back as 30 June that it is illegal for public servants to do business with the state...