By REGINALD KANYANE
1 May 2026 – The ANC in North West said the 10th ANC Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Regional Conference that was marred with court interdict went successfully well. Motseokae “Sense” Maje (Regional Chairperson), Sebang Motlhabi (Deputy Regional Chairperson), Walter Mabogola (Regional Secretary), Wenene Molaolwa (Deputy Regional Secretary) and Boyboy Sejake (Regional Treasurer) were elected unopposed.
The regional conference that was held at Christiana All Seasons Resort, was postponed more than once.
The ANC provincial spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping said: “Indeed, we can confirm as the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) that, the ANC regional conference in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Region did sit yesterday and successfully elected the leadership of the region.
“Before the commencement of the regional conference, there were legal matters that were brought before the court to interdict that conference by two members from the ANC branches. Unfortunately, that interdict was granted successfully to them.”
Maruping further said, however, at the later stage following consultation with their legal team as the organisation, the interdict was appealed successfully hence the regional conference went ahead.
In turn of event, it is alleged that this morning, the ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula sent a letter to the ANC Provincial Secretary, Louis Diremelo and ANC Regional Task Team (RTT) coordinator, Walter Mabogola, declaring the 10th ANC Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Regional Conference irregular and unsanctioned. According to the letter, this comes after directions pending the Part B hearing of 8 May 2026 and the constitution of the Conference Dispute Resolution Committee.
“My office has just learned via second hand information that on the morning of 30 April 2026, in the Gauteng Local Division of the High Court of South Africa, Johannesburg, in the matter of Kenewang Seleseng and Kitso Kala v African National Congress and Others under Case No. 2026-097836, the Honourable Justice Minaar AJ granted an interim interdict restraining the Respondents — including the Office of the Secretary General, the Provincial Secretary of the ANC North West and the Regional Task Team Coordinator of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Region — from commencing or continuing with the 10th Regional Conference and any elective processes thereunder, pending the finalisation of the relief sought under Part B of the notice of motion.
“The Court further directed the Respondents, at paragraph 1.2 of the order, to establish a Conference Dispute Resolution Committee. Part B has been set down for hearing at 11:30 on Friday, 8 May 2026. Notwithstanding that order, of which the Respondents’ counsel and attorneys had direct knowledge, a notice was issued at 15:32 on 30 April 2026 over the signature of Walter Mabogola, in his stated capacity as Regional Coordinator of the Dr RSM Region, instructing all delegates to assemble for the official opening of the conference at 16:00 the same afternoon,” he said.
Mbalula alleged that the conference did, in fact, commence at that time. He added that he writes, in the exercise of the powers and duties vested in the Office of the Secretary General by Rule 12.5 of the Constitution of the African National Congress and read with the Revised Guidelines for Conferences (29 July 2024), to place on record without equivocation that the post-interdict commencement was irregular and unsanctioned 4. 5.
“The notice of 15:32 on 30 April 2026 and the commencement of the 10th Regional Conference at 16:00 on the same date were not authorised by the Office of the Secretary General. No instruction, directive, sanction, condonation or acquiescence to such commencement issued from the Office of the Secretary General.
“To the contrary, the consistent posture of the Office of the Secretary General throughout the period 28 March to 30 April 2026 has been one of lawful supervision under the ANC Constitution, the Guidelines and, where engaged, the orders of the High Court,” said Mbalula.
He said in the premises, the proceedings of the 10th Regional Conference of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Region purported to have been opened or conducted on or after 16:00 on 30 April 2026 are, with immediate effect, recorded as irregular and unsanctioned by the Office of the Secretary General. Mbalula said any nominations, elections, ratifications, declarations of office, presentations of credentials, or political and organisational reports purporting to have flowed from the proceedings of 30 April 2026 are, with immediate effect, suspended and shall be of no force or effect within the structures of the African National Congress, pending the determination.
“The determination is the Part B hearing on 8 May 2026 in the Gauteng Local Division of the High Court of South Africa, the Application for Leave to Appeal noted by the Respondents in terms of Uniform Rule 49(1)(b) and (d) and section 17 of the Superior Courts Act, 10 of 2013, on 30 April 2026 at 15:50.
“This includes the constitution and report of the Conference Dispute Resolution Committee directed at paragraph 1.2 of the order of Honourable Justice Minaar AJ and any further directives that may be issued by the Office of the Secretary General consequent upon (i) to (iii) above,” he said.
Mbalula said no certificate of regional outcome shall be issued by the National Organising and Membership Department, no inclusion of any purported regional officials shall be effected on MMS, no submission shall be made to the National Working Committee or to the National Executive Committee, and no public communication shall be made on behalf of the movement, predicated on the proceedings of 30 April 2026, save with the express written authority of the Secretary General.
He said he demanded a written explanation by no later than 5pm on 2 May 2026, to furnish the Office of the Secretary General with a sworn written explanation, addressing in particular, the constitutional and statutory authority on which the notice of 15:32 on 30 April 2026 was issued.
“The explanation should include the chain of communication, if any, between you and the Office of the Secretary General, the National Officials, and the Conference Convening Authority between 09:45 and 16:00 on 30 April 2026. Comrades, the African National Congress is a constitutional movement. The discipline of the movement requires that, even where decisions of the Courts are perceived to be in error, the proper response is to invoke the appellate procedures provided by the Superior Courts Act, not to disregard the Court’s authority.
“The interests of the movement are not advanced by conduct that places its leadership in personal jeopardy of committal proceedings. The Office of the Secretary General defends the African National Congress from within and from without — including, where so required, by speaking the truth to its own structures,” said Mabalula.
He said they are reminded of the duties of cadres in office under Rule 5.2 of the ANC Constitution, of the duties of the Provincial and Regional structures under Rules 16 and 19 read with the Revised Guidelines for Conferences, and of the obligation of every member of the movement to conduct himself or herself in a manner consonant with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Mbalula said all rights of the Office of the Secretary General — including the right to refer the conduct of any office-bearer arising from the events of 30 April 2026 to the National Disciplinary Committee under Rule 25 of the Constitution — are expressly reserved.
The Guardian 