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Tokyo Sexwale and the ANC Succession

Tokyo Sexwale Pictured With Nelson Mandela

(Tokyo Sexwale Pictured With Nelson Mandela.) 

Tokyo Sexwale is an ANC Stalwart, former premiere of Gauteng, and multimillionaire businessman. The chairman of Mvelaphanda Group has been in the news a great deal lately. He recently drew headlines for joining the Washington, DC-Based Brookings Institution's International Advisory Council (IAC).  The IAC is a “group of 24 distinguished individuals from around the world who helped to provide the US think-tank with global insights on its mission and research agenda,” established by Strobe Talbott, the Brookings Institution president and former deputy secretary of State under Bill Clinton.

As the ANC succession battle heats up and the procedural machinations follow, Sexwale has not exactly been quick to dismiss rumors that he has his eye on the ANC presidency, which in turn would likely assure that he would succeed Thabo Mbeki as the country's president. The timing of his recent criticisms of “silent diplomacy” toward Zimbabwe certainly indicates that Sexwale has serious political aspirations.