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...

Justice Minister Ronald Lamola and Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu are overseeing the effort to extradite the Guptas from the United Arab Emirates...

Some of Ramaphosa's strongest backers – Zizi Kodwa Fikile Mbalala and Senzo Mchunu – have left Luthuli house to take up cabinet posts (AC Vol 59 No 2 Big change no fanfare)...

New cropInsiders say that major changes are due at ANC headquarters as the likes of Senzo Mchunu narrowly beaten to the post of Secretary-General by Magashule in the 2017 election Kodwa and ANC election chief Fikile Mbalula a former Zuma loyalist turned Ramaphosa fan leave for government positions...