The ANC’s North West provincial executive committee (PEC) has opened an internal investigation after a number of branch leaders and sitting councillors in the province registered as candidates for the South African Communist Party (SACP) ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
PEC inquiry targets councillors still in ANC deployment
The probe, ordered by the provincial leadership, focuses on branch executive committee (BEC) members and public representatives who are listed on other parties’ candidate lists while still serving under the ANC banner. According to party insiders, the group under scrutiny includes ward and proportional representation (PR) councillors, mayoral committee members (MMCs), a chief whip and a former mayor.
The ANC plans to move to expel members who have aligned themselves with other parties before they formally resign or are removed from ANC lists. Party sources said regional coordinators and secretaries have been instructed to identify and compile names of those who have defected.
Who has switched?
Most of the defectors have joined the SACP, but some have chosen other options, including the Patriotic Alliance (PA), the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, the SLK Independent Party or are contesting as independents.
Candidate lists published by the SACP and other parties in the province include a number of well-known local office-bearers:
- Boipelo Marekoa — PEC member and MMC for public safety in Rustenburg
- Thabo Mashomo — chair of the public accounts committee in Rustenburg
- Mojalefa Mosupa — MMC for sport, arts and culture in Matlosana
- Letswane Ramothibi — ANC chief whip at Naledi municipality
- Pitso Gulane — Naledi council speaker and ward 3 councillor, presently running as an independent
These moves have been described by ANC insiders as a coordinated “jump” by branch and regional officials to contest the elections under other banners.
| Defector | Current/Recent role | New affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Boipelo Marekoa | PEC member; MMC for public safety, Rustenburg | SACP |
| Thabo Mashomo | Chair: Public Accounts Committee, Rustenburg | SACP |
| Mojalefa Mosupa | MMC: Sport, Arts & Culture, Matlosana | SACP |
| Letswane Ramothibi | ANC chief whip, Naledi | SACP |
| Pitso Gulane | Council speaker; Ward 3 councillor, Naledi | Independent |
Political and governance implications
Local analysts and party insiders warn the defections could complicate coalition arithmetic and service delivery in municipalities where margins are tight. Several of the defectors hold positions that oversee critical municipal functions, including public safety and oversight of municipal finances.
In Rustenburg and Matlosana — two of the larger municipalities cited — council majorities have been fragile in recent years, and high-profile moves by sitting MMCs and committee chairs may shift alliances during coalition negotiations after the vote.
For residents, the practical concern is continuity of services. When senior municipal officials change political allegiance in the run-up to an election, the risk arises that ongoing projects or oversight processes may be disrupted as relationships between ward committees, municipal management and political office-bearers are recalibrated.
ANC strategy and its limits
The ANC’s strategy to expel members who join other parties before officially vacating ANC deployment aims to maintain internal discipline and to protect party assets and lists. However, insiders cautioned that formal expulsions may not prevent some defectors from contesting locally — especially where councillors have established strong local support bases or where local grievances against party structures exist.
Sources said the investigation will examine BEC members, branch executive task teams, public representatives and those deployed in state organisations. The PEC has also asked regional officials to deliver lists of candidates who have switched, so disciplinary processes can proceed quickly.
What to watch next
- Whether the PEC completes its investigation and publishes findings before 4 November.
- Any formal expulsions and whether affected councillors continue to campaign under new banners.
- The impact on coalition talks and governance in Rustenburg, Matlosana and Naledi municipalities after the elections.
The coming weeks will show whether these defections represent isolated local disputes or a broader shift in political allegiances in parts of the North West. For communities reliant on steady municipal services, the priority will be stability and effective delivery regardless of party labels.
