Mbalula halts North West regional conference due to court order
The ANC has told its Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region in the North West to respect the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, halting its regional conference.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula told Provincial Secretary Louis Diremelo and Walter Mabogola, the party’s regional task team (RTT) coordinator, that the post-interdict commencement was irregular and unsanctioned.
“I write, 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 ANC and read with the revised guidelines for conferences, to place the following on record without equivocation,” reads Mbalula’s letter.
He said the commencement of the regional conference last week was not authorised by his office.
“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 March 28 to April 30, 2026, has been one of lawful supervision under the ANC constitution, the guidelines and, where engaged, the orders of the High Court,” he said.
Mbalula said his office had just learned via second-hand information that on the morning of April 30, 2026, in the High Court, an order was granted an interim interdict restraining the ANC. Mbalula was cited in the order, which interdicted the regional conference from commencing or continuing and any elective processes thereunder, pending the finalisation of the relief sought under part B of the notice of motion.
Mbalula wrote to the two officials: “Notwithstanding that order, of which the respondents’ counsel and attorneys had direct knowledge, a notice was issued at 15:32 on April 30 over the signature of Mabogola, in his stated capacity as regional coordinator of the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati region, instructing all delegates to assemble for the official opening of the conference at 16:00 the same afternoon.
“It is further alleged that the conference did, in fact, commence at that time.”
He added that the proceedings of the regional conference purported to have been opened or conducted on or after 16:00 on April 30 are, with immediate effect, recorded as irregular and unsanctioned by the Secretary-General’s Office.
“Any nominations, elections, ratifications, declarations of office, presentations of credentials, or political and organisational reports purporting to have flowed from the proceedings of April 30 are, with immediate effect, suspended and shall be of no force or effect within the structures of the ANC, pending the determination of part B hearing on May 8, 2026, in the High Court,” Mbalula said.
The High Court also directed the ANC warring parties to establish a conference dispute resolution committee.
