By Paul Simao
South African presidential hopeful Tokyo Sexwale represents the changing face of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) - a man as comfortable in an executive boardroom as in a run-down township hostel.
The 54-year-old Soweto native, who is quietly campaigning for the ANC leadership, has won an impressive range of supporters which cross racial and political lines dating back to his days as a freedom fighter in the ANC's military wing.
The charismatic Sexwale is a darling of the country's wealthier classes, helped by his oil and diamond business interests.
At the same time he claims to be the political heir of Nelson Mandela. But it is unclear whether he has enough support among trade union leaders to win the ANC leadership, a role which would also guarantee him the national presidency in 2009.
Sexwale has been careful to maintain relations with key constituencies within the ANC, often doling out corporate largesse to their families and sponsoring their gatherings.
Unlike South African President Thabo Mbeki and some other political rivals, he also has a close relationship with Mandela. The two were jailed together in the notorious Robben Island prison for fighting to overthrow white minority rule.
Their bond grew closer when Sexwale helped to tame the township violence that erupted between supporters of the ANC and Zulu-dominated Inkatha Freedom Party before the 1994 elections.
The prisoner-turned-tycoon has given shares of his Mvelaphanda Group, with interests stretching from Angola to Russia, to Mandela's children and he helped pay for Mandela's 85th birthday bash when funds dried up.
But it is unclear whether this will be enough to sway the more than 4 000 ANC delegates who gather next month to elect a party president. While seen by business as the perfect candidate to continue Mbeki's centrist policies, Sexwale is viewed with suspicion by the powerful trade union movement.
The COSATU labour federation, which is in a coalition with the ANC and South African Communist Party, has called for a shift away from policies the left says have favoured the white business community and a small number of rich blacks.
It backs ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma for the top job.
Sexwale's leadership aspirations also could be handicapped because his natural base of support - the middle class, business and professionals - overlaps with that of Mbeki, who is widely believed to be seeking a third term as ANC leader.