The ANC national working committee has reaffirmed its instruction to party leaders and structures to stop the succession debate.
The ANC said on Wednesday the NWC agreed that the succession debate has been closed until a pronouncement is made by the National Executive Committee.
Various factions in the ANC have pronounced on their preferred candidates to succeed President Jacob Zuma as leader of the party.
The ruling party is going into its elective conference in December in Gauteng.
ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said all the party structures and leaders have been barred from discussing or speaking out on the succession debate.
“The NWC noted several pronouncements made in the media about leadership succession by various members, leaders, structures and leagues of the ANC as well as the alliance,” said Kodwa.
“The NWC took note of and reaffirmed the decision of the NEC calling on structures of the ANC to refrain from pronouncing on names of comrades to be elected as members of the NEC or the officials towards the 54th national conference to be held in December,” said Kodwa.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and AU Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma have been backed by different factions to succeed Zuma.
But Kodwa said the NWC this discussion is closed until a decision is taken by the NEC.
“This decision is in advancement of long-standing procedures of the ANC which dictate that leadership succession is discussed within the prescribed norms of the ANC and regulated by the guidelines towards conference that will be developed and adopted by the NEC,” said Kodwa.