The inclusion of ANC Member of Parliament Soviet Lekganyane on the ANC mayoral candidate list for Polokwane Municipality has caused division within the party’s Limpopo structures.
Lekgayane, who is the chairperson of the ad hoc committee investigating allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system, has been pitted against ANC deputy provincial chairperson and Polokwane mayor John Mpe after the ANC Veterans League nominated him for the city’s mayoral race.
Africa Daily has reliably learnt that the disagreement unfolded at Luthuli House on Thursday during the ANC’s mayoral candidate interviews, where Mpe and Lekganyane were among those considered for the position.
According to an ANC source, the dispute centred on Lekganyane’s inclusion in the interview process despite sections of the Limpopo leadership backing Mpe as their preferred candidate for Polokwane, a development which has upset some within the PEC.
The source said Lekganyane was nominated through the ANC Veterans’ League in Limpopo, which exercised its right to submit his name for consideration.
“Lekganyane was duly nominated by the Veterans’ League. In fact, last week, before the interviews were postponed, he was supposed to be the first person to be interviewed,” the source said.
However, Africa Daily understands that some members of the provincial leadership aligned to Mpe were unhappy with Lekganyane’s inclusion.
In line with ANC procedure, Limpopo ANC chairperson Phophi Ramathuba and provincial secretary Reuben Madadzhe accompanied Mpe to Luthuli House as observers during the interviews.
Mpe is said to have consistently enjoyed the backing of influential figures within the province.
“Even last week, before the interviews were postponed, Mpe arrived at Luthuli House in the same vehicle as Madadzhe and provincial spokesperson Tony Rachoene. Madadzhe and Tony were there as observers. It also shows that John has the backing of the provincial top leadership,” the source said.
“This week, Ramathuba and Madadzhe again accompanied him.”
According to the source, provincial leaders remained dissatisfied after ANC national officials confirmed that Lekganyane would still form part of the interview process.
However, the source said no formal objection was lodged with the ANC’s Electoral Committee.
“Their unhappiness was never formally registered with the Electoral Committee as part of the dispute resolution process,” the source said.
Africa Daily understands that Madadzhe questioned ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula about Lekganyane’s inclusion.
Mbalula allegedly explained that the nomination had originated from the ANC Veterans’ League in Limpopo. The explanation, however, failed to satisfy some provincial leaders.
“Ramathuba and Madadzhe made it clear that they did not agree with Lekganyane’s inclusion and that they would not support it,” the source said.
Both Mpe and Lekganyane were ultimately interviewed.
But before leaving Luthuli House, the source alleged that Madadzhe approached Lekganyane directly and told him he would not feature on Limpopo’s final list of preferred mayoral candidates.
The latest disagreement also revives a long-running political rivalry between Madadzhe and Lekganyane.
The two found themselves on opposing sides during the ANC’s 2022 Limpopo elective conference, where Madadzhe defeated Lekganyane for the influential position of provincial secretary.
The contest unfolded against the backdrop of deep factional divisions within the province, including disagreements over the ANC’s renewal agenda and the political fallout from the VBS Mutual Bank scandal.
Following his defeat, Lekganyane moved into national politics, where he now serves as an ANC Member of Parliament and member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), while Madadzhe remained the ANC’s provincial secretary.
Sources have also claimed that tensions within the provincial leadership extend beyond the Polokwane contest.
According to another ANC source, concerns have been raised about the three members of Limpopo’s provincial top five who continue to occupy mayoral positions despite holding senior party offices.
These include once again deputy provincial chairperson John Mpe, who is mayor of Polokwane Municipality, provincial treasurer Edwin Maila, who serves as mayor of Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality and deputy provincial secretary Pule Shayi, who is mayor of Mopani District Municipality.
“They are supposed to relinquish those positions. They are supposed to be in the legislature. They need to make space for others,” the source said.
The source further argued that the arrangement raised accountability concerns.
“If their municipalities are not performing well – and according to the Auditor-General many of them are struggling – who is supposed to hold them accountable if they also form part of the provincial top leadership?”
The disagreement comes as the ANC rolls out a revamped mayoral selection process ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
For the first time, the party has opened public and self-nominations for mayoral positions while centralising the selection process under its national leadership and National Executive Committee (NEC), reducing the influence traditionally exercised by provincial and regional structures.
The ANC has also introduced stricter eligibility requirements, with prospective mayoral candidates required to possess a tertiary qualification and at least three years’ experience as a councillor, Member of Parliament or Member of a Provincial Legislature.
The interviews currently underway form part of that process before the ANC finalises its mayoral candidates ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
