Mbeki’s statement came as the race for the leadership hotted up, with seven months to go before elections for the top ANC posts.
It also coincided with top businessman and former Gauteng premier Tokyo Sexwale declaring he would accept nomination for the presidency of the ruling party, in an interview to be broadcast today on the BBC’s Hard Talk programme.
At the weekend, Mbeki hosted a meeting of his International Investment Council, which includes steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, Independent News chairman Sir Anthony O’Reilly, former DaimlerChrysler CEO Jurgen Schrempp and AngloGold Ashanti’s Sam Jonah.
At a media conference afterwards, Mbeki said the council did not discuss the ANC succession race, as the world did not consider this an important question in terms of investment.
However, given that the head of the ANC will become president of SA in 2009 — unless it is Mbeki himself, who cannot serve more than two terms — investors may be unlikely to agree with Mbeki’s sentiments.
Foreign investors, particularly, will be looking at the leading candidates to assess the possibility of a change in SA’s economy policy.
Last month, ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma said he would accept nomination regardless of whether he was re-charged with fraud and corruptionby the National Prosecuting Authority.
Although Sexwale qualified the conditions under which he would accept nomination, this places him alongside Zuma as a leading candidate for the job.
This is an important development for business, as Sexwale is seen as more pro-business than the populist Zuma — a perception for which Mvelaphanda’s chairman has been criticised.
In January, when the prospect of Sexwale’s nomination arose, there was a furious reaction from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party, (SACP).
Critics say Sexwale’s business empire is at odds with the needs of the majority and one group said: “We will not allow capitalists to parachute a candidate to us.”
Apart from Zuma and Sexwale, the only other person to indicate he could accept a nomination is Mbeki himself.
The speculation has been that to formally display an interest in the top job of the ANC, and hence of the country, would be to give opponents an opportunity to blunt the candidacy.
Mbeki said a more pressing issue was how to address unemployment, suggesting the government may pump more money into the budget for training.
Discussing SA’s crime rate — which sees 50 people murdered every day — Mbeki said crime required a social intervention, rather than a police intervention.
He said the view that people were murdered while walking down the street was wrong, as 85% of murders took place between “people who know each other”.
But as much as Mbeki dismissed the succession issue, the market will be keenly awaiting the ANC’s December conference.
Business has a notable stake in Mbeki’s successor, as at least three businessmen besides Sexwale have been tipped for the top job.
But any candidates must have enough time to get their nomination through the provinces and branches — unless they plan a wildcard nomination from the floor.
The Sunday Times reported yesterday that Sexwale has told Hard Talk he would be accept any “instructions” from the ANC.
When asked if he wanted to lead the ANC, Sexwale said: “That depends on the nomination process within the ANC. If you are nominated, you consider. So nobody has ever formally nominated me, that process is going to take place.” With Bloomberg
