FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Provincial Working Committee of the ANC in the Eastern Cape met in a special meeting on Monday, 03 November 2025 to discharge is duty, in terms of the ANC Constitution: to carry out decisions and instructions of the PEC; to conduct the current work of the ANC and ensure that Regions, Branches and all other ANC structures carry out the decisions of the ANC; and to prepare of report for submission to the PEC.
The Special PWC was guided in its deliberations by a report from the ANC PEC Officials, informed by a report prepared by the Provincial Secretary’s Office (PSO).
The meeting commenced with the Political Input by the Provincial Chairperson, Cde Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane who stated clearly that the ANC must not look for external enemies to explain the political cancer of factionalism. He emphatically made a point that we all know ideologically we are aligned, but the problem is the contest for positions and control of state power which is taking precedence over the needs of the people. He further said the consequences of factionalism are severe for the ANC. We know for a fact that leading to the next local government elections, councillors whose term has expired might surface in other political parties because to them the ANC is nothing else but a ticket to a job. Ill -discipline has been reported already by some regions wherein there has been an open defiance by ANC deployees .
Provincial Chairperson called for the establishment of a robust mechanisms to monitor, evaluate, and, when necessary, recall non-performing Councillors and Mayors. The era of invisible and unaccountable councillors is over.
He further called for an adoption of a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, maladministration, ill- discipline and financial misconduct in government.
RECONFIGURATION OF THE PDRC:
The PWC reaffirmed the PEC’s decision to reconfigure the Provincial Dispute Resolution Committee (PDRC) . The reconfiguration comes at a pivotal time for the ANC, with three outstanding Regional Conferences of Nelson Mandela, Dr WB Rubusana and Sarah Baartman Region respectively. Once finalised , the list will be shared with all our structures. The PSO will capacitate the Provincial Dispute Resolution Committee (PDRC) to manage appeals efficiently in the ongoing processes from various branches . It will ensure that the timelines are tightened in line with Conference Guidelines.
APPOINTMENT OF PROVINCIAL SPOKESPERSON:
The PWC agreed to facilitate for the further strengthening of the ANC communications and the rebuilding of public trust. Consequently, the PWC appointed Cde Yanga Zicina as the Provincial Spokesperson. He has been charged with strengthening the Provincial Department of Communication , Information and Publicity (DCIP) and ensures that there is a seamless communication for the ANC.
OR TAMBO MEMORIAL LECTURES :
The ANC PWC appreciated the OR Tambo Memorial Lectures , hosted ANC Chris Hani Region at Vuyisile Mini Sub-Region , the ANC Alfred Nzo Region at Winnie Madikizela- Mandela Sub-Region , KSD Sub-Region and Mhlontlo Sub-Region in the OR Tambo Region.
The series of memorial lectures honoured the life and legacy of President Oliver Reginald Tambo, whose unwavering commitment to principled leadership continues to guide the ANC in advancing the struggle for social and economic justice. Comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo was one of the key drivers of South Africa’s liberation and one of the founding fathers of our constitutional democracy.
ON FORMER PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI VISIT TO NELSON MANDELA REGION :
Former ANC President, Cde Thabo Mbeki led a political school program hosted by the ANC Veterans League in Nelson Mandela Region over the past weekend.
The PWC extended its appreciation for the continued support and political guidance from President Thabo Mbeki, whose invaluable insights continue to enrich discussions on the political affairs of the ANC and our country. Renewal is not limited to the reforms we are making to our structures; it is a moral and intellectual undertaking we can refer to as the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) of the soul. The PWC reaffirmed Cde Thabo Mbeki’s standpoint on renewal as it highlighted that effective branches require members and leaders who are both ideologically grounded and ethically committed to our mission.
The PWC has identified the objectives of Political Education as a cornerstone of our organisational renewal and rebuilding. First and foremost, every member of the ANC must be educated about our rich history, vision, mission, principles, values, ethics, ideological orientation and policies. PWC further acknowledged that the renewal programme aims to ensure that the ANC purges and strengthens itself as part of ensuring we have a truly committed crop of activists and cadres and this is a period of renewal and rebuilding. Every member must undergo political education to ensure we build an advanced cadre that is able to meet the demands of this current epoch and its challenges, including aligning personal conduct with the revolutionary ethos of the ANC.
PWC resolved to continue providing organizational support to the efforts by President Thabo Mbeki and re-affirmed its commitment to the rebuilding and renewing of the ANC and the Leagues at every level in order to enforce discipline and integrity, strengthening ideological work and political education.
ANC SUPPORT TO TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP :
The ANC PEC Officials met with the provincial leadership of the Congress of South African Traditional Leaders
(CONTRALESA) last week as part of deliberations in preparing for the Traditional leadership Summit
The ANC PWC reaffirms its unwavering respect for the institution of traditional leadership as a vital pillar of democracy and governance. Traditional leaders remain integral to our developmental agenda, playing a central role in community leadership, social cohesion, and service delivery. The ANC continues to prioritise their welfare through ongoing engagements between our deployees, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance, guided by the legislative frameworks already in place.
The welfare and remuneration of traditional leaders is already governed by a robust legislative framework. The Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act, 1998 (Act 20 of 1998) provides a clear and progressive basis for determining salaries, allowances, and benefits; including medical aid and pension entitlements; for public office bearers, which explicitly covers traditional leaders and members of the National and Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders. Determinations on these benefits are made by the President following recommendations from the Independent Commission on the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers and are published annually in the Government Gazette.
Furthermore, the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, 2019 establishes the recognition, roles, and structures of traditional leadership, while linking remuneration and benefits to the framework of the Remuneration Act. This ensures uniformity, transparency, and accountability in the administration of traditional leadership benefits. Provinces are empowered to operationalise these provisions, as seen in KwaZulu-Natal’s establishment of the Amakhosi Pension Fund, within the national framework to suit local contexts and the Eastern Cape is finalized expansion of medial aid cover to all recognized traditional leaders . Policy framework for pension benefits will be finalized by COGTA.
ON INITIATION SEASON:
People of Eastern Cape and elsewhere in the country take pride of the initiation, as a cultural practice that plays a critical role in moulding the future generation, in particular boys transitioning to manhood, to become responsible citizens fit for purpose, for the broader developmental agenda of our society, free of GBVF elements, drug use, and general criminality.
As we enter the initiation season, we call upon communities, families and various stakeholders to play a meaningful role in arresting high-levels of initiation deaths. Initiation deaths are as a result of reckless elements from those involved and that collectively we must adhere to established protocols, that under-age initiation passage is strictly forbidden, and that families must make use of the authorised traditional surgeons for their boys who are to undergo initiation passage.
Traditional leaders are encouraged to play a meaningful role during this process, within their respective communities and reign over in instances where understood protocols are not followed to the later. Government, through COGTA has already begun with awareness campaigns for a zero-initiates deaths and other key programs to curb this scourge in Eastern Cape, to restore the dignity of this precious cultural practice of our people and its impact in society as a whole.
ANC PEC POLITICAL SCHOOL:
The ANC PEC Political School will be held from the 22- 24 November 2025. The school seeks to deepen political education, sharpen the battle of ideas, and strengthen the ideological grounding as part of the ANC’s renewal agenda.
END….
ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS-EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE
Enquiries :
Cde Gift Ngqondi
Provincial Head of Communications
ANC Eastern Cape
Mobile No-0849519924/0848439706
