Shilowa successor to be chosen

2008-10-01 09:03

Johannesburg - The ANC leadership in Gauteng will nominate three candidates to succeed Mbhazima Shilowa as premier on Wednesday.

The provincial executive committee (PEC) would then forward the names to its national structure for a person to be elected, ANC national spokesperson Brian Sokhutu said.

The process would be completed "in the next few days".

Media reports have suggested the front-runners to be finance MEC Paul Mashatile and education MEC Angie Motshekga.

Shilowa resigned on Monday out of loyalty to ousted president Thabo Mbeki who was removed from office by the national executive committee (NEC) of the African National Congress.

The ANC in Gauteng on Tuesday criticised Shilowa's "unbecoming behaviour" for "questioning the decisions of the NEC".

Shilowa said he would have preferred to complete his term in office but he did not want to be in constant battles with the ANC leadership.

- SAPA