Zuma's presidency challenged

Intense lobbying for Deputy President to succeed President Jacob Zuma as the head of the ANC has begun in earnest in South Africa's economic hub, with the party's Johannesburg region positioning itself as a springboard for his campaign.

Although the party has put a lid on leadership succession debates, the Sunday Times can reveal that party structures in Gauteng - led by Johannesburg and Tshwane - have begun informal discussions about Motlanthe taking over as party president in December next year.

The two regions are the first party structures - outside the ANC Youth League - to begin to discuss who should lead the party beyond its centenary.[timeslive]