The battle for the control of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) has erupted again after two factions claimed to be legitimate leaders of the civic organisation, which is in alliance with the African National Congress (ANC).

This was after both groups wrote different letters to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to block a move to register the organisation as a political party to contest the 2026 local government elections away from the ANC, its historical alliance, together with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP).

In the first letter, Mike Soko told the IEC that the move by Dr Zukile Luyenge, its former chairperson in the Eastern Cape, is not sanctioned and should not be entertained. He claimed that they are the legitimate leaders.

“We therefore call on the IEC to stop the registration so that a historical body, with a public record in non-governmental work, is not hijacked and registered as a political party,” Soko said in a letter dated 25 June 2025.

Before that, Lemias Mashile sent an almost similar letter to the IEC, saying the registration should be stopped.

“I write to you representing the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) that was elected in the recent undisputed national conference of 28th-29th October 2023 at Johannesburg City Hall,” Mashile said to the IEC.

Separately, he told the African Times that they are awaiting a court date to nullify the conference that elected Soko and others. He later added that he is the legitimate General Secretary and Richard Mdakane is the leader of the civic organisation, not Soko and his associates.

“We (are) waiting for a) court date anytime to nullify their existence. Only one national conference can be held in five years. Therefore, their NEC is disputed in court. I am the only one General Secretary who is undisputed,” he said.

Soko did not respond when he was asked about Mashile’s claims.