EThekwini ANC Branches Accuse Regional Task Team of Intentional Sabotage to Delay Crucial Elective Conference

ANC branches in eThekwini accuse the regional task team of stalling the elective conference to control candidate selection for local government elections.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 8:10 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from IOL

Factional Tensions Erupt Over Regional Leadership Delays

Internal friction within the ANC's eThekwini region has reached a breaking point as supporters of prominent leadership contenders accuse the regional task team of active obstruction. Factions backing council Speaker Thabani Nyawose and Executive Committee member Nkosenhle Madlala claim that the interim leadership is undermining the democratic process to extend their tenure. These allegations suggest a strategic effort to remain in control of the party’s largest region as the local government elections approach, creating a climate of deep suspicion among the rank and file.

A Looming Deadline and Fragmented Branch Readiness

The region is currently racing against a strict organizational roadmap that mandates the completion of the elective conference by April 7. However, the logistical reality on the ground paints a bleak picture of the region's readiness. Reports indicate that out of 111 branches, only one or two have successfully conducted the necessary meetings to elect new leadership. Concerned party members argue that this lack of progress is not a result of administrative incompetence but a calculated maneuver to ensure that no legitimate challenge to the current task team can be mounted before the deadline expires.

Accusations of Power Grabs and Slate Manipulation

Lobbyists for the contending factions have been vocal about what they describe as a fear based strategy employed by the current task team. One anonymous coordinator alleged that the leadership is effectively running away with the conference because they lack support from the local branches. The primary motivation, according to these critics, is to maintain authority over the selection of ward councillor candidates. There are growing fears that the task team intends to install loyalists who do not resonate with the community, prioritizing self enrichment and the maintenance of expensive lifestyles over the renewal of the party.