Gauteng High Court Affirms Loyiso Masuku as Johannesburg ANC Chair, Citing Failure to Use Internal Party Dispute Channels

Gauteng High Court rules on Loyiso Masuku's ANC Johannesburg chairmanship. Learn why the challenge by Dada Morero's advisor was dismissed for lack of urgency.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 4:12 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from IOL

Judicial Restraint Over Internal Party Democracy

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has re-affirmed the leadership of Loyiso Masuku, the first woman to lead the ANC’s Greater Johannesburg region. The ruling, delivered following a March 27 hearing, dismissed a legal challenge brought by Stan Itshegetseng on the grounds that it lacked the necessary urgency for a court mandate. While Judge Wilhelmina du Plessis acknowledged that the applicant acted out of a "sincere concern" for the party's electoral integrity, she emphasized that constitutional and legal obligations require members to first utilize their organization’s own dispute resolution frameworks before approaching the bench.

Allegations of Manipulation and Technical Irregularities

The legal battle originated from a contentious regional elective conference held in December 2025. Itshegetseng, a former special advisor to current City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, argued that the conference was marred by systematic manipulation. Specific allegations included widespread vote-buying, the discovery of open ballot papers at a presiding officer’s home, and a conflict of interest involving the private company hired to manage the vote. The applicant claimed this firm was owned by a municipal employee, raising questions about the neutrality of the administrative process that saw Masuku defeat the incumbent Morero.

The Power Struggle Between Regional and National Structures

Masuku’s victory in late 2025 triggered a complex power struggle within the Johannesburg metro. Shortly after her election, the new regional leadership attempted to recall Dada Morero from his position as mayor. This maneuver, however, was blocked by the ANC’s national leadership, which maintains the ultimate authority over mayoral deployments. This "entrenchment" of Morero has created a rare political friction where the regional chairperson and the regional mayor represent opposing factions within the same council, leading to significant internal instability throughout early 2026.