By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Fikile Mbalula has named the party’s new top six leaders in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), after the provincial structure was disbanded for its dismal performance in the May 2024 elections.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Mbalula expressed hope in the appointed members, commending the team for maintaining peace in all the meetings.
This forms part of the party’s broader strategy to rebuild itself and prepare for the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Mbalula said reconfiguring the provincial leadership was “imperative” and marks a significant step in reaffirming the party’s commitment to strengthening organisational unity and renewal in the province.
The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) was briefed by Mbalula on a National Working Committee report on the challenges the party faced in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The intervention approved by the NEC seeks to strengthen the movement by integrating experienced leadership with a renewed commitment to political education, organisational discipline, and grassroots mobilisation. This approach ensures that the ANC remains the vanguard of progressive change in the province and across the country,” he said.
The newly reconfigured ANC KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Task Team (PTT) is made up of Provincial Convenor:Jeff Radebe; 1st Deputy Provincial Convenor Weziwe Thusi; 2nd Deputy Provincial Convenor Siboniso Duma; Provincial Coordinator Mike Mabuyakhulu; Provincial Deputy Coordinator Nomusa Dube-Ncube; and Provincial Fundraiser Nomagugu Simelane.
“The ANC has adopted a clear strategic posture to deploy its best resources to patiently rebuild the organisation root-and-branch in KZN, and we commend our structures and members in KwaZulu-Natal for their discipline and unwavering commitment to the movement while awaiting the resolutions of the National Executive Committe,” Mbalula said.
The PTT is also mandated to revive relations with Amakhosi and faith-based communities, Amabandla.
“The ANC acknowledges the historical and moral authority of these structures in guiding our society and affirms the need to strengthen our collaboration to advance unity, social cohesion, and transformation. The ANC remains resolute in its mission to build and strengthen the organisation in this key province, ensuring that we are prepared for the battles ahead. Our movement has faced formidable challenges, yet through collective resolve and adherence to organisational discipline, we have consistently emerged stronger,” Mbalula said.
Former KwaZulu-Natal ANC secretary Bheki Mtolo has previously criticised the move, arguing that if provincial disbandment was a result of electoral failure, then the NEC itself should be dissolved, given the ANC’s national decline from 57% to 40%.
Mbalula said Mtolo will be the convener of policy, planning and monitoring and would remain on the ANC’s payroll until his term as then-provincial secretary ends. “No one has been thrown to the streets here. We’ve got everyone on board,”he said.
Mbalula commended the party’s structures for their discipline in accepting leadership decisions on the reconfiguration of the KwaZulu-Natal province.
He underscored the ANC’s historical legacy in the region, drawing inspiration from past leaders such as John Langalibalele Dube, Chief Albert Luthuli and Moses Mabhida.
“As much as we do have people in our organisation who don’t agree on this reconfiguration, over time they will understand that the intentions were noble,” he said.