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 spokesman 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, chairman of the province, 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.