ANC to break silence on Motlanthe's deployment

Kgalema Motlanthe is to be deployed to Parliament as soon as possible

The ANC's National Working Committee (NWC) is to hold a media briefing at 9am this morning to announce its decision on the deployment of the party's Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. The NWC met behind closed doors until late yesterday at the ruling party's head office, Luthuli House, in Johannesburg.

It is widely speculated that the NWC discussed whether Motlanthe should be deployed to Parliament and Cabinet. Two months ago, the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) decided to deploy Motlanthe to government in order to ensure a smooth handover of power within the ANC before next year's general election.

Last week media reports suggested that Motlanthe would be placed in government within days, to allow him to "shadow" President Thabo Mbeki, while he served the remainder of his term.

The reports quoted a senior NEC member as saying Motlanthe would be "like a minister of state in the presidency". However ANC spokesperson, Tiyani Rikhotso, declined to comment on the reports.