New ANC leadership in Tshwane faces uphill battle to reclaim power

The newly-elected leadership of Greater Tshwane regional ANC under the Tshwane Deputy Mayor Eugene “Bonzo” Modise have a challenging task ahead to reclaim power lost in the City of Tshwane during the 2016 municipal polls.

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, who addressed the delegates on the last day of the 12th regional conference on Sunday, said the ANC believes in them to return the party into power in Tshwane. 

“We are faced with a mammoth task here in Tshwane to get the ANC back into power," he said.

He, however, said the move to reinstate the ANC into municipal power can only be possible if the ANC exists in every ward and branch in Tshwane. 

Mbalula also used the opportunity to congratulate the new regional leadership and impressed on them that they must demonstrate discipline and unity in the ANC.

“Comrades, remember one thing: discipline, cohesion and unity is a lived experience and not a convenience. You unite ideologically because we are getting somewhere. We are out of power. We have suffered a setback. We made an in-depth analysis about that. You live that experience here in Tshwane of a coalition. You suffered for some time out of power until we agreed that you must come back into power," he said.

Last year, the ANC entered into a multiparty coalition agreement with the EFF and ActionSA - the key players in Tshwane - including other smaller parties.

Mbalula said: “You know what it means to be out of power. It is not easy to come back. Comrades, we have deployed in the municipality are doing us proud and we are proud of them. We see you and we feel very excited when you are fixing those roads. You must now redouble that effort on the ground.” 

He urged those who have been elected not to alienate those who contested against them for positions.

“You must work together. We must be comrades. You must respect each other,” he said.

Modise was elected uncontested as the chairperson despite a forensic report recently tabled in Tshwane council implicating him in a conflict‑of‑interest concerning a security company called Triotic Protection Services doing business with the municipality.

The DA in Tshwane has since filed criminal charges against Modise, citing allegations of his involvement in business dealings with the municipality. 

Modise’s deputy is Tshwane’s MMC for Roads and Transport Department, Tlangi Mogale, who won against Aaron Maluleka, the MMC for Human Settlement in the municipality.

Both the regional secretary George Matjila and deputy regional secretary Samuel Mashola, who is also the council chief whip, were also elected unopposed to retain their respective positions. 

The new regional treasurer is James Shilenge who beat Ananias Mogalusi and Motlalepule Mabena.

The conference went ahead following a failed bid to interdict its proceedings by some disgruntled ANC members.

In a media statement, the ANC said: “The court dismissed the interdict and refused to intervene in internal political party squabbles without cause.”

Mbalula said the conference should have taken place a long time ago but it was stalled due to party members “manufacturing disputes in branches”.

“Our processes have been proven to be correct in terms of dispute resolution mechanisms,” he said.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za