The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has put a spoke in the party succession wheel with its suggestion that President Jacob Zuma should serve a third term as ANC leader.

Just as the jostling within the ANC to replace Zuma at the next conference in December 2017 got hotter, the ANCYL boldly stated that the incumbent should remain at the helm of the party. Even if the ANC wins the next election in 2019, the constitution does not allow Zuma to serve a third term as SA president.

New ANCYL president Collen Maine said youth league members were “consistent in that they were in favour of Zuma serving a third term” as ANC president. He made his remarks in an exclusive interview with The Citizen in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, on Thursday night.

Yesterday, ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza poured cold water on the third term suggestion. “The ANC has never had such a discussion,” said Khoza.

Khoza, however, said the ANC does not have any limits on the number of terms a leader can be re-elected to lead the organisation.

“We believe that any such matter would have to be decided by the branches,” said Khoza.

He added: “That is a decision that has to be taken by the membership of the ANC because the ANC is going to its conference in 2017.”

Radio Islam’s Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat spoke to political commentator and columnist Ranjeni Munusamy.

Manusamy, said it makes no sense as to why the ANC would do this, especially in a year where they will have to fight an election.

She added: “that the ANCYL is testing the water to basically float this idea, however she doesn’t think majority of the ANC members would support such an idea and that a lot of people are ready for a new leadership in the ANC because of all the problems that have happened under the Zuma administration.”

At the ANCYL’s 71st anniversary in Nelspruit last week, members raised three fingers in the air to signal their support for a third term for Zuma. There were loud cheers when Maine said Zuma should serve a third term as leader of the ANC.

Already, names of possible successors have been bandied about, including deputy ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa, African Union (AU) Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete.

The ANC’s national general council is scheduled to take place next month in Midrand, Johannesburg.