The ANC in Peter Mokaba (Capricorn) region, Limpopo, has been forced to postpone its hotly anticipated elective conference for the second time in less than a month, due to numerous unresolved and outstanding branch appeals.
The delayed elective conference was scheduled for this weekend (2-4 May). However, it is set for another delay after numerous branches submitted appeals to the Limpopo Provincial Dispute Resolution Committee (PDRC), and are still waiting for their outcomes.
According to a source, 33 branches have lodged disputes alleging irregularities during the branch general meetings (BGM) held to elect delegates to the conference and nominate candidates for leadership positions, also 12 branches have parallel leadership.
The source reveals that amongst the branches which have appealed the outcomes of BGM includes wards 14,13,17,31 in Polokwane and ward 4, which belongs to the City of Polokwane mayor and regional task team convenor John Mpe, and 14 from the ANC’s Sefako Makgatho Sub-region in Lepelle Nkumpi.
Those with parallel leadership include ward 17, where Member of the Provincial legislature (MPL) Thabo Mabotja, is also the chairperson.
“These disputes are about irregularities that happened during the general meetings, where members were not informed about the meeting’s date and venue, while some’s IDs were scanned without physical attendance.
“For instance, in ward 4 they needed 800 members to sit, but only had 100 in physical attendance, while others were scanned in absentia,” said the source who is privy of the information in the PRDC.
Due to these unresolved and ongoing disputes from branches, the Peter Mokaba regional conference, which needs more than 85 branches to proceed with business has derailed.
The regional task team spokesperson, Adolph Rapetswa said the region is yet to receive a communique from the province about the number of disputes they received and progress thereof.
Rapetswa said following a special regional task team meeting on 29 April 2025, they resolved to postpone the conference to allow internal organizational processes to be concluded.
“The RTT revised the roadmap and rescheduled the Regional Conference to place during the 9th to the 11th May 2025, However we can confirm that the number of branches which have been audited by the Secretary General’s office have surpassed the 70% threshold and we believe that even if some few branches are ordered to re-run they won’t affect the quorum for the conference, ” he said.
The ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka confirmed that the province has received numerous disputes. However, he remained mum about the number of disputes and their contents.
“I am unable to confirm the Contents of the dispute as the letters are With the PDRC, even if the contents were known to me, i would not divulge the contents of the Disputes decause it remains an internal Matter which the PDRC Is currently processing.
“Once the PDRC has completed its work on the Disputes, affected Members and branches will be informed of the outcomes,” Machaka said.
The Provincial ANC spokesperson further said the provincial executive committee (PEC) is concerned that some of the regions have not adhered to their approved roadmap, and hopes that all outstanding matters will be attended to and conference will sit before the expiry of their term of office as the RTT.
Unlike the Sekhukhune regional conference which elected its top five leadership unopposed, the Peter Mokaba conference is hotly contested.
In the slates circulating on social media, Mpe’s group has him as chairperson for the third time, deputised by Molemole municipality mayor Masilo Paya, while Lesiba Matsimela is contesting the secretary’s position.
On other slate, Capricorn District municipality mayor and provincial chairperson of ANC Women’s league, Mamedupi Teffo appears as chairperson. The MEC of Public Works, roads and infrastructure Ernest Rachoene is associated with Teffo’s slate as the deputy chairperson.
