The highly anticipated Limpopo elective conference of the African National Congress (ANC) will go ahead as planned this weekend after the High Court in Polokwane dismissed an urgent application seeking to interdict the gathering.

In a judgment delivered on Friday, Acting Judge Tshifiwa Tshivhase struck the matter off the roll, citing a lack of urgency. The court found that the applicant, Basil Mabasa, had failed to exhaust internal party dispute resolution processes before approaching the court.

“As such, this court came to the conclusion that there is no case made out by the applicant on urgency,” ruled Tshivhase. “The application is struck off for lack of urgency. Each party will pay its own costs.”

The ruling effectively clears the path for the ANC’s 11th Limpopo Provincial Elective Conference to proceed at the Pieterburg Cricket Club, where hundreds of delegates are expected to gather from Friday, 27 March 2026.

Mabasa, a disgruntled branch member, had approached the court arguing that there were irregularities in branch general meetings in Malamulele, within the Collins Chabane sub-region. These meetings were responsible for nominating delegates to attend the conference. He also raised concerns about the legitimacy of a digital device used to verify delegates, suggesting it could compromise the integrity of the conference.

However, the court was not persuaded that the matter warranted urgent intervention, particularly given the availability of internal ANC mechanisms to resolve such disputes.

The judgment comes as ANC leadership in Limpopo expressed confidence in their readiness to host the crucial gathering, which is expected to shape the political direction of the party in the province ahead of future elections.

On Thursday, ANC Provincial Secretary Reuben Madadzhe, accompanied by Njabulo Nzuza, the convenor of NEC deployees to Limpopo, and members of the provincial conference preparatory committee, conducted a site visit at the venue.

The walk-about, which included members of the media, assessed key logistical components such as infrastructure readiness, accreditation systems, and media facilities. Officials indicated that all systems were in place to ensure a smooth and well-coordinated conference.

Addressing journalists after the inspection, Madadzhe said the province was fully prepared to host delegates and run the conference without disruptions. He was joined at the briefing by Deputy Provincial Chairperson Florence Radzilani and provincial spokesperson Jimmy Machaka.

“The province is ready to welcome delegates, and proceedings will commence as planned,” Madadzhe said, describing the state of readiness as satisfactory.

The Limpopo conference is expected to be closely watched, with Premier Phophi Ramathuba widely tipped to emerge as the next provincial chairperson, a position that carries significant political influence within both the party and provincial government.

While Limpopo appears set for a smooth conference following the court ruling, the ANC in the Eastern Cape is facing a contrasting situation. There, a court has interdicted the provincial elective conference scheduled for the same weekend, throwing the party’s plans into uncertainty.

Despite the legal setback in the Eastern Cape, ANC leaders and national executive committee members deployed to the province have indicated that they intend to appeal the ruling. They maintain that the conference process can still move forward, provided that internal disputes, particularly those related to branch legitimacy, are addressed.

Party officials have also stressed that they do not believe proceeding with preparations would place them in contempt of court, adding that they remain committed to complying with legal processes while resolving internal disagreements.

The contrasting developments in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape highlight ongoing tensions within the ANC as it prepares for key elective conferences across provinces. These gatherings are critical in determining leadership structures and consolidating support ahead of national political contests.

In Limpopo, however, Friday’s judgment has removed a significant obstacle, allowing the party to proceed with its internal democratic processes. Delegates are now expected to converge at the venue, where leadership contests, policy discussions, and organisational matters will take centre stage over the weekend.

With the legal hurdle cleared and preparations complete, ANC leaders say it is now “all systems go” for the 11th provincial conference, an event that could reshape the party’s future in the province.