By: JN Reporter
The ANC’s Xhariep region is in disarray, crippled by intensifying factional battles and a deepening leadership vacuum that has effectively brought the organisation’s operations to a standstill.
The most recent blow came when a long-awaited Regional Executive Committee (REC) meeting collapsed shortly after it began, exposing the extent of internal divisions and political dysfunction that threatened to engulf the region.
Frustrated party members have allegedly issued an ultimatum to the leadership: disband the REC or face an internal revolt—at the risk of losing the upcoming elections. They cite entrenched divisions, ineffective leadership, and a total breakdown of trust in the current regional structure.
Members accuse the REC of blatantly flouting the party’s constitution by failing to convene regular Regional Working Committee (RWC) and REC meetings. They also claim the leadership is exploiting municipalities to consolidate power, sidelining communities and further undermining service delivery—damaging the ANC’s credibility in key battleground areas.
“Unless urgent action is taken to restructure the leadership or dissolve the entire REC, currently led by Chairperson Paki Dlomo and Secretary Shakes Mphako, the organisation’s electoral fortunes in the region will continue to nosedive. We can’t sit and fold our arms while that happens,” said a concerned party member, who requested anonymity.
“We have engaged the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) on our challenges. Now it’s up to them to act—or face our revolt.”
Another frustrated party member revealed that tensions in the region have escalated due to Dlomo and Mphako’s recent attempts to remove certain deployees from municipal positions without proper consultation.
“There have been efforts to remove comrades from their positions in municipalities, and the regional structure was completely sidelined in the process. We only learned about these developments after they were presented to the PEC as if they were official REC resolutions,” the member said.
He said Mphako attempted to orchestrate the removal of Letsemeng Local Municipality Speaker Xolani Mthukwane, Chief Whip Abram Lebaka, and Mohokare Municipality Chief Whip Pule Mahapane.
According to the member, despite clear constitutional requirements for regional leaders to convene regular meetings, only Dlomo and Mphako allegedly hold secret meetings and make decisions on behalf of the entire REC.
The ANC constitution stipulates that the REC must meet as soon as possible after its election to elect the RWC, and thereafter at least once a month (rule 21.6.1). Rule 21.10.3 further mandates the RWC to meet at least every two weeks.
“I can tell you now that the REC has only met twice in the past 12 months. Yet decisions are being presented to the PEC and municipalities as though they are legitimate REC resolutions,” he said. “The most recent attempt to convene a meeting—scheduled for June—collapsed shortly after it began. That would have been only the third meeting in a year.”
His claims are corroborated by a letter written by REC member Mthetho Lalu to Provincial Secretary Polediso Motsoeneng this week, as well as a petition addressed to both the regional chairperson and secretary raising alarm over the non-sitting of REC and RWC meetings.
Journal News is in possession of both documents.
In his letter—confirmed as authentic by Lalu, though he declined further comment and referred the matter to the party’s communications office—he accuses Dlomo and Mphako of bypassing the REC and unilaterally conveying mandates to the PEC and ANC caucuses in the region.
“Things cannot go on like this, comrades, where a few individuals meet and take major decisions on behalf of the organisation without consulting the elected regional structure,” the letter reads in part.
Lalu urged Motsoeneng to intervene urgently, warning that failure to act would force them to rebel against decisions made without proper consultation.
A petition signed by 13 REC members in May—including Lalu—issued a further warning: if the current failure to hold meetings continues, “the organisation is going to die, as it is already dead in the region—and we cannot allow that to happen.”
Journal News spoke to both Mphako and Dlomo, who dismissed the allegations as baseless and described them as “malicious rumours” spread by ill-disciplined members.
When asked to respond to the accusations, Mphako declined to comment in detail, saying he would not entertain rumours in the media.
“Just as you won’t reveal your sources, I’m not obliged to explain myself to you. These are rumours being spread by a comrade in a letter that’s now circulating everywhere. I’m not aware of the issues you’re referring to, including the petition,” said Mphako.
Dlomo, however, dismissed Lalu’s claims, accusing him of ill-discipline and of advancing a personal agenda within the organisation.
“Firstly, there are established organisational processes and channels that every member is expected to follow when raising grievances. Comrade Lalu’s actions amount to ill-discipline. What he fails to explain is why he does not attend meetings or submit apologies for his absence. The organisation cannot be held to ransom by individuals pursuing personal agendas. These are malicious rumours being spread by Lalu and those aligned with him,” said Dlomo.
Attempts to get a comment from ANC provincial spokesperson Thabo Meeko were unsuccessful.
However, this publication has reliably learned that upon receiving Lalu’s letter, that is also sent to Motsoeneng, Mphaka issued a memorandum on Friday to convene a meeting with the regional leadership, scheduled for Tuesday in Reddersburg.
