Is Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi the next President of South Africa?
With President Cyril Ramaphosa serving his final term and the ANC yet to settle a clear successor, a lot of folks are asking who could lead the country next. One name popping up in public discussion because of the headlines is Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi — but stop: Mkhwanazi is currently a senior police official, not a declared ANC candidate.
He’s been in the spotlight recently after publicly alleging that criminal syndicates have infiltrated parts of the state and naming senior officials at a commission of inquiry. That made him a household name — but there’s no credible reporting that he’s running for the ANC leadership or the presidency.
So — could he “take over”? In practice, becoming president requires party nomination, a national political campaign and (in South Africa’s system) control of party lists and votes. For now, Mkhwanazi’s profile is tied to law enforcement and whistleblowing, not a political campaign.
What do you think — would you trust a police boss to make the jump into national politics, or do you expect a more conventional ANC successor to emerge?