ANC turns to veterans to revive Gauteng, KZN structures
The ANC has turned to several of its veteran leaders to head up efforts to revive the party’s structures in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
The decision to reconfigure the leadership in the two provinces followed the party’s disappointing performance in the 2024 general elections.
The ANC failed to secure a national majority in May, falling below 50% for the first time.
In KwaZulu-Natal, its support dropped significantly to 17%, largely due to the rise of former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party. In Gauteng, the ANC continued its downward trajectory, securing only 34% of the vote.
In December, the party’s national working committee engaged with both provinces’ provincial executive committees on the causes behind the poor electoral showing.
A decision was made to change structures in both provinces.
After finalising discussions in a meeting in Cape Town on Monday, deployed NEC members conveyed the reconfiguration decisions to the PECs.
Maropene Ramokgopa, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and Mdumiseni Ntuli led discussions with the Gauteng PEC. At the same time, Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane and KZN deployees’ head Zizi Kodwa handled engagements in KwaZulu-Natal.
In Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi retains a leadership role as co-convener, joined by former Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo and Hope Papo as coordinator.
For KwaZulu-Natal, Siboniso Duma will serve as deputy convener, while former ANC policy head Jeff Radebe has been deployed as convener. Mike Mabuyakhulu will take on the role of coordinator.
Additionally, secretaries TK Nciza (Gauteng) and Bheki Mtolo (KZN) have been demoted.
Both provinces will now be governed by task teams, with additional members yet to be finalised.
Amos Masondo
Masondo is a seasoned ANC activist who has served in various leadership roles.
He was the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) from 2019 to 2024 and previously held the position of Gauteng provincial treasurer from 1996 to 1998.
He also served as Johannesburg’s first democratically elected mayor from 2000 to 2011.
Jeff Radebe
Radebe is one of the ANC’s longest-serving leaders, having held various ministerial positions, including Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.
He has been a member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee for decades, bringing extensive experience in governance and policy formulation.
Mike Mabuyakhulu
Mabuyakhulu has been an ANC representative in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature from 1994 to 2016.
He served as the province’s MEC for Economic Development and Tourism and was ANC KZN’s Provincial Treasurer from 1998 to 2008. In 2018, he was elected Deputy Provincial Chairperson, a position he held until 2021.
Hope Papo
Papo is a former Member of Parliament who served as the parliamentary counsellor to the leader of government business from 2019 to 2024.
He has also been Gauteng’s provincial secretary and played a key role in the province’s ANC structures.
In its previous meeting, the party's national executive committee agreed that the overriding objective is how the ANC can be strengthened and rebuilt in the two provinces.
The party's Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, said the decision does not target specific provinces but is focused on renewing and rebuilding the ANC.
He also acknowledged potential opposition to the decision.
“If anyone challenges this in court, we must ensure that our actions are guided by the constitution. The NEC’s decision will be implemented within that framework,” he said.
