A political clock is ticking — and this time, the ANC's regional branches can no longer afford to hit the snooze button. After months of missed deadlines and unresolved disputes, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has drawn a firm line in the sand, giving key regional structures just five days to convene their long-overdue elective conferences. But here’s where it gets controversial: Mbalula’s demand appears to clash with the ANC’s previously set national timeline.
According to the directive, the City of Johannesburg, along with the Eastern Cape’s Dr WB Rubusana and Sarah Baartman regions, must host their conferences by Tuesday, 3 December. The urgency comes from the fact that the ANC’s fifth national general council is set to begin on 8 December — and no region should walk into that gathering with unfinished internal business.
In a letter dated 26 November, Mbalula informed ANC Eastern Cape secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi that all provinces must align with the overall roadmap, ensuring regional conferences are completed before the general council convenes. The Eastern Cape, however, has had a particularly bumpy ride this year. Both the Sarah Baartman and WB Rubusana regions have spent most of 2025 stuck in disputes over branch validity — disagreements that have repeatedly delayed progress.
Mbalula’s letter emphasized that finalizing these pending processes is critical for the party’s organizational stability and a smooth transition into preparations for the national general council from 8 to 11 December. Yet, local insiders are raising red flags. A source within the WB Rubusana region admitted that while several disputes have been resolved, others remain entangled in administrative back-and-forth. “The timeline is tight,” the source said, hinting that the region could struggle to meet the new deadline.
Interestingly, Mbalula also sent comparable instructions to ANC Gauteng provincial task team coordinator Hope Papo and convenor Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. This has raised eyebrows since the ANC’s national executive committee had previously approved a much longer timeline — until March 2026 — for all regional and provincial conferences. So, what’s behind this sudden push? Political analysts may well interpret it as Mbalula asserting stronger control over internally divided structures.
Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, the race for leadership is heating up again. Mayor Dada Morero is once more eyeing the position of regional chair. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s home branch in Chiawelo, Soweto, has thrown its weight behind him — although that endorsement carries its own intrigue. Ramaphosa ally Loyiso Masuku reportedly wants the same job, potentially setting up a friendly-fire contest inside Gauteng’s largest region.
The Chiawelo branch also took a firm stance on other roles, rejecting current regional secretary Sasabona Manganye’s re-election bid in favor of nominating Lebohang Tshabalala. Out of 135 ANC branches in Greater Johannesburg, 125 are currently recognized as being in good standing, surpassing the required threshold of 96 branches to proceed with the conference.
But here’s the twist that could ignite debate within the party: Why did Mbalula suddenly override the NEC’s 2026 target with a December 2025 deadline? Is this about enforcing discipline, or consolidating political power ahead of the national council discussions?
What’s your take — is Mbalula cleaning up inefficiency, or tightening his grip on the ANC’s machinery? Drop your thoughts below — the party’s internal politics might be more fragile than they appear.
