Thandi Modise

Defence Minister Thandi Modise who is openly hostile towards Washington said that five million rounds of ammunition and small arms were unloaded as part of an order for the South African Special Forces and for which permission had been applied to South Africa's National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) in 2019 (AC Vol 63 No 23 Cyril in Empireland)...

The Women's League led by convener and former Parliamentary Speaker Baleka Mbete opted for Defence Minister Thandi Modise as deputy president...

Pandor Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe Defence Minister Thandi Modise Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan are expected to accompany the President on the state visit...

Africa Confidential understands that he will be pitching for a place on the ANC's top six national officials along with the likes of ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile Justice Minister Ronald Lamola Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and Defence Minister Thandi Modise (AC Vol 63 No 3 Candidates and kingmakers break cover in succession drama)...

Defence Minister Thandi Modise Justice Minister Ronald Lamola Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile (also acting Secretary-General) and acting deputy Secretary-General Gwen Ramokgopa are also seen as potential contenders for top six posts and we understand are all aligned with Ramaphosa's reforms...

Leading women contenders for the top six are Co-operative Governance Minister ex-wife of Zuma and former head of the African Union Dlamini-Zuma Defence Minister Thandi Modise and former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka who recently returned from New York where she headed UN Women...

Adding to the confusion over South Africa's position on Russia-Ukraine it emerged Defence Minister Thandi Modise and the head of the SA National Defence Force General Rudzani Maphwanya had attended a 'Defend the Fatherland' reception at the Russian Embassy in Pretoria on 24 February the day after the invasion had begun...

But it is possible he could be challenged for the deputy President's position by a woman such as Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma who was narrowly beaten by Ramaphosa in 2017 Defence Minister Thandi Modise or Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu who has previously challenged Ramaphosa and lost...

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...

Lindiwe Sisulu who narrowly lost the deputy presidency to Mabuza in 2017 and Defence Minister Thandi Modise who Africa Confidential understands is Ramaphosa's favoured candidate are likely contenders for the deputy presidency...

Instead Minister of Defence Thandi Modise her deputy Thabang Makwetla and Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele met the veterans at a hotel outside Pretoria (AC Vol 59 No 5 Not yet Team Ramaphosa)...