Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is in the lead to become the next leader of the ruling African National Congress, according to an analytical survey by Bloomberg.
Bloomberg brought together a group of political science professors and lecturers from eight South African universities.
Sixteen out of the 26 analysts put Ramaphosa as the frontrunner to take over the helm of the party from President Jacob Zuma at its national conference in December.
Five out of the 26 expected Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to win the election while one expert had his faith in Jeff Radebe. The remaining four of analysts said it was too soon or impossible to select a likely winner.
Read: Cyril Ramaphosa: Can 'Mr. Nice' be a decisive president? Some say he lacks decisiveness, even in pursuit of his own goals.
Read: Can Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma live with herself? She's hitched her wagon to a troop of horses "that aren't the best of horses".