ANC Limpopo chairperson quits due to conference misconduct

ANC Chairperson in Limpopo, Stanley Mathabatha, has announced that he will be stepping down, following misconduct at the ANC’s Vhembe and Waterberg conferences. 

Mathabatha said in a letter to Secretary General Fikile Mbalula that he has observed a “lack of ANC values” in the province. 

He said his decision to step down is to uphold his reputation and dignity. 

“I cannot stand aloof to such unethical and un-ANC tendencies occurring under my leadership,” he said. 

He added that he is open to deliberating these issues further with National Office Bearers of the party and will make himself available for conversations with ANC leadership. 

ANC Limpopo Spokesperson Jimmy Machaka responded to Mathabatha’s letter, which was shared online, according to ENCA.

He said that the authenticity of the letter could not be confirmed and promised further communication once verified. 

While the letter does not provide further information on the misconduct at the regional conferences, controversy surrounded several recent Limpopo elective conferences.

Fikile Mbulula said last week that a Regional Task Team was formed to address concerns raised by ANC members on the elective conferences in Vhembe, Mopane, and Peter Mokaba.

This was prior to the ANC regional Waterberg Conference, the last elective conference, which took place on September 1 and was also disputed by factions within the ANC.

“We do have checks and balances in the organisation, and conflict resolution mechanisms which are independent,” he said. 

Mbulula said conflict resolution mechanisms worked, allowing the conferences to take place. He added that the conferences and election results are not under review and are pending the task team’s report.

No updates have been given regarding the status of this report. 

Disputed elective conferences in Limpopo

The ANC elective conference in Vhembe, which took place in May,  was marked by infighting and boycotted by some ANC members. 

Leading up to the conference, some ANC members applied to the Thoyandou High Court in Watervaal to interdict the conference.

The group argued that verification for the election was carried out by the top five members of each branch, which they argue is against the ANC’s constitution. 

Some members, therefore, boycotted the event and rejected the outcomes of the election. 

Several months later, the Waterberg Conference faced similar issues when it convened on September 1.

Two applications to interdict the Waterberg Regional Conference were launched at the Pretoria High Court and Gauteng High Court ahead of the conference.

Both these applications were submitted by ANC members. These cases raised the same issues of branch representation and the verification of credentials. 

The ANCYL Limpopo called on the leadership of the ANC to reject the step aside.

“He came to the province when the ANC and the government of Limpopo needed a leader to stabalise the province both politically and administratively,” the ANCYL said.

The ANCYL added that Mathabatha should have penned his resignation “without causing drama” by sharing the letter on social media.