By OBAKENG MAJE

20 March 2025- The African National Congress (ANC) in the North West said it welcomes the judgment handed down by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), on an appeal case of Lebogang Medupe and others against the ANC. Three disgruntled ANC North West members headed to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) over the disputed provincial conference held in 2022.

Medupe, Molefe and Moswane have been fighting the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) led by it’s chairperson, Nono Maloyi, his deputy Lazzy Mokgosi, provincial secretary Louis Diremelo, deputy provincial secretary Viola Motsumi and provincial treasurer Sello Lehari.

In their court papers, they argue that the term of the office of the ANC North West interim provincial committee (IPC) appointed in July 2019, had expired at the time of the convening of the provincial conference and the election of conference committees.

Medupe, Molefe and Moswane wanted the SCA to determine whether there was a hostile takeover of the conference by the ANC permitting of relief in favour of the appellants, whether the court a quo erred in fact and misdirected itself in finding that the IPC lawfully issued a notice for the ninth provincial conference and whether the National Executive Committee (NEC) had the authority to conduct or hold that election.

In May 2023, North West High Court Deputy Judge President Tebogo Djaje dismissed their application with costs.

Now, SCA has also dismissed the appeal has with costs.

The ANC provincial spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping said this ruling reaffirms the position of the ANC that there are faceless individuals who are masquerading as “comrades”, whose agenda is to weaken and destroy the African National Congress from within. Maruping said this landmark judgment further reaffirms the legitimacy of the ANC’s internal processes and underscores the importance of organizational discipline and adherence to the party’s constitutional framework.

“The ruling is a victory for unity, stability, ongoing renewal, and rebuilding program. The ANC in North West acknowledges and appreciates the judicial system’s role in safeguarding democratic principles and ensuring that organizational matters are handled in accordance with established legal and constitutional provisions.

“However, the organisation is equally against the abuse of the justice system by those who seek to undermine the ANC Constitution and its internal democratic processes. This decision paves the way for uninterrupted work of rebuilding and renewing the ANC in the province,” he said.

Maruping further said they urge all members and structures of the ANC in North West to respect this judgment and focus on strengthening the organization as they prepare for upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE) and all governance responsibilities by the people’s movement. He added that, the ANC remains committed to fostering unity and shall never tolerate those who seek to sow divisions within its ranks.

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