THE ANC IN LIMPOPO IS BLEEDING: SELF-DESTRUCTION AS ARROGANT REC MEMBERS IMPOSE GIRLFRIENDS AND CRONIES AHEAD OF NOV 4 LOCAL ELECTIONS

THE ANC IN LIMPOPO IS BLEEDING. Self-destruction ahead of 4 November as arrogant REC members impose girlfriends and cronies, rape branches, ignore the constitution, and privilege returned soldiers.  Limpopo gave the ANC 74%. If the bleeding is not stopped now, the party risks collapse ward by ward.  

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief

The Azanian | Truth. Fearless. Unfiltered.  

AZANIAFROCOMEDIA – The Catalyst of Impact

The ANC in Limpopo is bleeding. It is bleeding from arrogant REC members imposing girlfriends and cronies as councillors.

It is bleeding from the rape of branches. It is bleeding from a constitution that is ignored. It is bleeding from the privileging of returned soldiers. It is bleeding from loyal members being treated like dirt.

This is self-destruction. This is the ANC marching against the ANC. It has already happened. ANC members took to the streets and marched against ANC REC members. When your own members toyi-toyi against their own leaders, that is serious calamity. That is handing the opposition the perfect opportunity to harvest discontent ward by ward.

The Azanian has spoken to members across Polokwane, Molemole, Blouberg, Lepelle-Nkumpi and other municipalities. Their message is identical. Branch democracy is under attack.

The first attack is candidate imposition. REC members are forcing names down to wards. These are not names chosen by branches. These are girlfriends of REC members. These are friends of REC members. These are allies and cronies of regional chairpersons and secretaries. Communities are rejecting them openly. The REC is imposing them anyway.

The second attack is the rape of branches. Unqualified people are being imposed into Branch Executive Committees. They did not build the structures. They do not have the capability to be leaders, councillors, or mayors. They are being placed there solely because they are allies of regional leadership.

The third attack is on the constitution itself. The ANC constitution is clear. A returned soldier who left for another party must serve 5 years observation, or 3 years with relaxation, before holding leadership or deployment.

In Limpopo that rule is being discarded. Returned soldiers are being fast-tracked into strategic BEC positions and pushed as councillor candidates ahead of members who stayed, built structures, and never left. The reason is simple.

They are cronies of someone.

This is happening because these arrogant REC members are protected by cronies inside the Provincial Executive Committee. That protection is why warnings from the top are ignored on the ground.

Limpopo remains the ANC’s last reservoir of dominance. The province delivered 74% to the ANC in the previous local elections. Nationally the ANC collapsed to 40% and lost its majority. There is no margin for error. Elections are won in wards.

When volunteers feel disrespected and marginalised, they walk away. Why would you stay where your voice does not count? Why would you stay where you are not respected?

So they are leaving. The bleeding has become an exodus. Members are joining the SACP. Members are joining ActionSA. Members are joining Mayibuye. Others are forming their own community organizations to contest the 4 November elections and to punish the ANC in Limpopo.

We are forming our own structures to defuse these power-drunk and extremely pompous REC members, one organizer said. The community has vowed to punish them at the polls. The opposition is already peddling. They are already recruiting our discontent members because we are giving them to them.

ANC Limpopo Provincial Secretary Vha-Musanda Reuben Madadzhe has warned repeatedly. Addressing gatherings across the province he said: “The public must not have candidates imposed on them as ‘this will really cause serious calamity and the ANC will be found wanting.’”  

He has called for an audit of all disputed wards against the constitution and verified branch minutes. He has demanded that branch outcomes be upheld where members have spoken clearly. He has called for discipline so no leader is above the rules.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has said the same nationally. Open the candidate pool to skilled professionals, but protect internal democracy at branch level.

On the ground, members say nothing is changing.

Let us be clear. If the ANC cannot manage itself with fairness in the province that gave it 74%, it cannot ask South Africa for 50% plus one.

“If these discrepancies continue, the ANC will lose its majority power in the province,” a senior insider warned. “This is serious calamity. The ANC will be found wanting. If it bleeds in Limpopo, it will collapse everywhere. It will be reduced to a caucus.”

As one branch member put it: “We are bleeding. If we don’t deal with this wound now, we will go to elections divided and we will pay the price ward by ward.”

November 4 is coming. The voters are watching. And this time, they are organizing

ANC FAILING TO WALK AFTER SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS.The elephant that once led the herd now lies in the dust. Impositions, branch rapes, and arrogance have broken its legs. 4 November will tell if it can rise, or if the vultures will finish the job.