By OBAKENG MAJE
2 March 2026 – The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in the North West has expressed grave concern regarding the audio clip circulating in the public domain, which allegedly captured gossip and divisive conduct involving the North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, together with the Deputy Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Collen Maine.SANCO said it is widely understood that as political parties approach elective conferences, leadership contests often become factional, with some individuals resorting to discrediting opponents in pursuit of positions within executive structures.
SANCO provincial spokesperson, Mzukisi Jam said in such instances, personal ambition is placed above the interests of the organisation, sometimes resulting in the mobilisation of support for leaders, who may lack the necessary competence, but who are elevated due to factional victories and subsequently deployed into government. Jam said these unhealthy political practices are beginning to manifest within the ANC in the North West as it moves closer to its provincial elective conference.
“SANCO is deeply disappointed by the conduct of certain ANC leaders in the lead-up to this critical gathering. Recent public developments during the State of the Province Address (SOPA) have revealed the extent to which internal factional battles have shaped how members of the same political party speak about one another.
“It has now become evident to the people of the North West that ANC leaders who publicly preach unity and renewal hold deeply opposing views behind the scenes. The reported utterances by Motsumi concerning her Deputy Chairperson and North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi raise serious concerns. Such statements, emerging from the livestream of SOPA, appear not merely factional, but explicitly hostile toward Mokgosi,” he said.
Jam further said this behaviour reflects a troubling pattern of internal sabotage within ANC leadership ranks and raises doubts about the movement’s commitment to its renewal agenda. He added that one cannot help, but wonder what message this sends to communities about the state of ANC leadership.
“The people of the North West deserve leaders who rise above personal grudges and factional battles. Hostility directed at Mokgosi or any elected leader eventually leads to weakened governance and undermines service delivery.
“It is deeply concerning when such attitudes appear to emanate from within the ranks of the ANC itself, particularly from a member of the provincial executive, when it is centered around the Premier. This is reckless and dangerous. It undermines organisational cohesion and sends a damaging message to communities who expect stability, maturity, and discipline from their leaders,” said Jam.
He said unity cannot be selective. Jam said one cannot profess loyalty to the movement while simultaneously fueling divisions against its democratically elected leadership.
“The Premier was entrusted with his responsibilities through established organisational processes and any grievances must be addressed through proper internal structures, not through gossip.
SANCO is further concerned that ANC deployee, North West MEC for DEDECT, Bitsa Lenkopane, took his employer and superior, Mokgosi to court over governance disputes that could have been
resolved internally, thereby risking the unnecessary use of public funds.
“This is one of many incidents that demonstrate that the ANC’s renewal project is merely a fallacy, while the organisation itself continues to bleed. As SANCO and the community of the North West, we are aware and witnessing a serious factional effort in the ANC aimed at discrediting the Premier, as seen and echoed in the Ad Hoc committee established to investigate allegations that Mokgosi interfered with the appointment of Municipal Manager, Modisenyane Segapo at Naledi Local Municipality a matter that could have been addressed internally,” he said.
Jam said the resort to legal processes to settle internal governance matters signals a troubling erosion of cohesion and suggests that the contestation for political power within the ANC is taking precedence over stability and effective service delivery. He said this raises serious concerns about whether the centre is holding in the ANC.
“SANCO remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting unity within the ANC and safeguarding the integrity of our liberation movement.
“We call on all comrades to prioritise organisational discipline over personal vendettas and to recognise that internal division serves only to weaken the movement. History teaches us that unity builds, while division destroys,” said Jam.
The Guardian 