By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) in Ekurhuleni is currently convening its 8th Regional Conference to renew its organisational mandate, with the gathering kicking off on Friday amid legal challenges that were ultimately dismissed by the court.
The court action comes after ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula was accused of irregularly appointing the regional task team in Ekurhuleni and also deeming its term extension as unconstitutional.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, the court struck the application from the roll and ordered the applicants to pay the legal costs, finding that they had failed to meet the necessary requirements for relief.
The ruling confirms that there is no legal impediment preventing the conference from proceeding as planned. But Ekurhuleni ANC member, Katlego Mamabolo, says they will start their court case afresh.
More than 90 branches are expected to elect new leaders as the region renews its organisational mandate under the conference theme: “Advancing Organisational Renewal, Unity, and People-Centred Service Delivery through Good and Ethical Governance.”
The ANC in Ekurhuleni described the legal challenge as a “sponsored attempt” aimed at distracting and derailing the party’s renewal agenda in the region.
Speaking on behalf of the ANC, the party’s spokesperson Jongizizwe Dlabathi welcomed the court’s decision.
“We want to welcome the judgment by the High Court, which has dismissed the urgent application to interdict the 8th Regional Conference of the ANC in Ekurhuleni. We strongly believe that the judgment is a correct judgment for we believe that the conference and the leadership that is presiding over the process has done almost everything to comply with the constitution as well as the guidelines.
“We’ve also argued that the Regional Task Team remains a legitimate structure that must deliver a properly constituted regional conference. On behalf of the ANC in Ekurhuleni, we welcome the decision by the High Court.”
The ANC has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting the conference in line with the party constitution and the highest democratic standards.
The conference, which commenced on 8 August 2025, continues today with delegates having successfully delivered political reports and adopted the conference credentials on the first day, laying a solid foundation for the event’s business.
Gauteng Premier and ANC Gauteng convenor Panyaza Lesufi addressed delegates, praising the work done to convene branches and prepare for the election.
“We are here today to congratulate you for the elaborate work that we’ve done in convening our branches in various BGM, and in doing so, you exercise a right movement to debate, discuss, and nominate people to represent you in this conference.”
He added that the National Executive Committee’s (NEC) guided process has ensured the conference adheres to internal rules and obtained the party’s secretary-general’s consent.
“We are here to declare that according to the guidelines adopted by the NEC, the gathering is legitimate and has the consent of the ANC secretary-general,” Lesufi said.
The ANC in Ekurhuleni is no stranger to controversy, the South Gauteng High court in 2023 overturned the decisions that had been taken at a 2022 regional conference after it found that the party had violated its own constitution.