The African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng has condemned the circulation of lists of people punted as candidates ahead of the party’s 54th  elective conference next year.

Lists have been circulating on social media, some naming Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the party’s president while others name its current Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as the one who will take the ANC forward.

The ANC Gauteng provincial working committee said in a statement that it noted with concern the circulation of lists by faceless people.

“These lists maliciously have the names of our Provincial Chairperson comrade Paul Mashatile and Provincial Deputy Chairperson comrade David Makhura,” said ANC Gauteng secretary Hope Papo.

He said the two had distanced themselves from the lists.

Papo said the party, which held a meeting on Monday, strongly condemned the circulation of divisive lists which formed part of factionalism and promoted slate politics.

“Those who engage in such activities are in fact undermining the organisation and its work and at worst, are undermining the unity of the organisation,” he said.

The PWC said no constitutional structure of the organisation in Gauteng had started to discuss the issue of leadership for the coming 54th National Conference.

“Before discussing who should lead the organisation, ANC structures will first discuss the political and socio-economic tasks which face the organisation and revolution.”

Papo said discussions needed to be conducted in a disciplined fashion and needed to promote unity and cohesion within the organisation.