Mkhize: I am available to lead
African National Congress (ANC) treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize says he is available to lead the party should he be nominated as potential successor to President Jacob Zuma.
Mkhize was speaking in Johannesburg this morning.
He has been mentioned as a possible compromise candidate as the party attempts to unite different factions.
Mkhize says there are ANC branches that have indicated they will nominate him to lead the party ahead of December's national conference.
"The question is not whether I am nominated, the question was that there are branches that are indicating that they wish to nominate. So when that happens, that is the time we'll say that nominations have happened.
"But when the nominations happen, I have indicated that I do wish to make a contribution in the next leadership of the ANC that will be elected in December. And therefore I will accept a nomination."
Mkhize says ultimately it will be nominations from branches which will steer the conversation in the run-up to the conference.
"I think we must wait for those processes and let them show how ultimately people are nominated. We will only have proper candidates when there have been proper nominations."
Mkhize says the most important thing is to try and avoid a divisive leadership battle.
"The issue really which I think is important for us is to try and unite all factions and unite all members of the ANC and ensure we get towards a conference with a united approach. And also to emerge with a unity of the ANC around its values and around its renewal."