Dlamini-Zuma being groomed for cabinet post?

"Comrade Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will be replacing comrade Pule Mabe as an ANC MP," spokesperson for the Chief Whip's office Nonceba Mhlauli told Jacaranda FM News on Friday night.

Given the former African Union Commission chairperson's candidacy to replace President Jacob Zuma as party leader come December, there is widespread speculation as to the possible reasons behind the decision.

Political analyst Professor Somadoda Fikeni says there are a number of possibilities.

Fikeni believes yet another cabinet reshuffle could be on the cards setting Dlamini-Zuma up for a post in the executive.

When asked which post he believes she might be groomed for, Fikeni said he does not believe she would replace her political rival, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

"Rather they would be looking at a senior role...so that she has a meaningful role to play in a senior cabinet position," he explains.

Alternatively, Fikeni suspects it might be to position her as a possible acting president.

Fikeni says should President Jacob Zuma be persuaded to step down before his term comes to an end "she could be considered for the role of stepping in as the president until 2019".

However, Dlamini-Zuma's deployment to the legislature poses a challenge to her campaign for ANC president.

Fikeni says she would no longer be able to solely focus on her campaign as she would have spend much of her time in Parliament.

But he adds, her presence could be seen as an attempt to balance the anti-Zuma forces in the governing party's caucus.

A number of ANC MPs voted in favour of a motion of no confidence in President Zuma last month.