Key Takeaways
- The ANC Limpopo is planning to hold an early elective conference, with the current provincial executive committee’s term lapsing in June 2026.
- The Norman Mashabane region has pleaded for its regional chairperson, Pule "Frelimo" Shayi, to be elected among the top five positions at the upcoming conference.
- Shayi is widely touted by ANC bigwigs in the province to play a key role in the party’s provincial leadership due to his political acumen.
- The province has five regions, with Norman Mashabane being the largest in terms of membership numbers.
- The ANC Limpopo has been led by male leaders since the advent of democracy in 1994.
Introduction to the ANC Limpopo Elective Conference
The African National Congress (ANC) Limpopo province has been making plans to hold an early elective conference, with the current provincial executive committee’s term set to lapse in June 2026. The province has five regions, including Norman Mashabane, Vhembe, Sekhukhune, Peter Mokaba, and Waterberg, with Norman Mashabane being the largest in terms of membership numbers, boasting 129 branches. The region has been instrumental in the party’s success, with its chairperson, Pule "Frelimo" Shayi, being widely touted by ANC bigwigs in the province to play a key role in the party’s provincial leadership.
The Norman Mashabane Region’s Plea
The Norman Mashabane region has pleaded with branches for Shayi to be elected among the top five positions at the upcoming conference. This plea is based on Shayi’s exuberant political history, having delivered the region to victory for a third term, a feat that is not common in the ANC. Shayi is seen as a unifier, leader from the front, and a community worker, making him a rare breed in the ANC. His inclusion in the provincial executive committee (PEC) is believed to raise much-needed eyebrows and bring the party to greener pastures, especially with the municipal polls scheduled for next year.
The Roadmap to the Elective Conference
The ANC Limpopo has announced that branches in the province’s five regions will deliberate on the proposal to hold an early elective conference during branch general meetings (BGMs) and branch biennial general meetings (BBGMs). The party’s regional spokesperson, Peter Ngobeni, stated that the Norman Mashabane region convened a successful special regional general council, where the region made a compassionate plea for Shayi’s inclusion in the PEC. The meeting was held to afford branches an opportunity to receive, consider, and adopt the roadmap and any other matter of organizational importance towards the 11th Limpopo Provincial Conference, scheduled to take place on March 27-29, 2026.
The Quest for Unity and Leadership
The ANC Limpopo is seeking to galvanize efforts to work towards an uncontested provincial conference, with the aim of unity and rebuilding the party’s eroded credibility and reputation. The party’s Sekhukhune region has expressed support for this view, and the Norman Mashabane region has also thrown its weight behind the idea. The quest for unity and leadership is crucial, especially with the municipal polls looming, and the party seeking to regain its lost ground. The ANC has been plagued by infighting and factionalism, and the elective conference is seen as an opportunity to heal the wounds and chart a new path forward.
The History of ANC Limpopo Leadership
Since the advent of democracy in 1994, the ANC Limpopo has been led by male leaders, including Ngoako Ramathlodi, Sello Moloto, Cassel Mathale, and Chupu Stanley Mathabatha. Mathabatha has led the organization since 2014 and was elected to a fourth term as the province’s chairperson in June 2022. However, with his term set to lapse in June 2026, his political camarillas have been lobbying for his replacement. Several names have been mentioned as potential candidates for the top five positions, including Polokwane mayor Makoro John Mpe, Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba, and Limpopo Provincial Legislature Speaker Makoma Makhurupetja.
The Battle for the Top Five Positions
The battle for the top five positions in the ANC Limpopo is expected to be fierce, with several candidates vying for the positions. In addition to Shayi, other notable candidates include social development MEC Florence Radzilane, cooperative governance, human settlement and traditional affairs MEC Basikop Rodgers Makamu, current party provincial secretary Vhamusanda Reuben Madadzhe, and former Limpopo ANC youth league provincial chair Ernest Tonny Rachoene. The outcome of the elective conference will be crucial in determining the future direction of the party in the province and its chances of success in the municipal polls. With the party’s credibility and reputation at stake, the ANC Limpopo must navigate the complex web of alliances and factions to emerge stronger and more united than ever before.