The African National Congress (ANC) Regional Executive Committee (REC) in Joe Gqabi Region held its first ordinary REC meeting on Monday the 25 August 2025 at the ANC Joe Gqabi Regional Office in Barkly East.
The REC meeting received a substantial political overview from the ANC Regional Chairperson, Cde Mfundo Bongela. The Chairperson’s political overview outlined the political position of the region as guided by the conference theme “The year of renewal and unity: Advancing a people centred socio-economic program for inclusive growth. This extensive political overview by the Regional Chairperson heightened the importance of the continuous prioritization of the renewal and rebuilding of the African National Congress.
The 8th Regional conference was generally a success delegates from branches displayed a high level of discipline, tolerance and patience. The main focus of the regional executive is to be a people centred leadership and unite the organisation for the benefit of our communities. We are appealing to the revolutionary consciousness of all our members in the region to be agents of change wherever they allocated in the region. We call on the organs of people’s power, war committees, Community Police Forums, SGBs etc to act as conveyor belts of every information that affects our people in their respective communities.
The region will play a key and central role in the politics of the province to jealously guard its reputation and the rich history of the province against the elements that are hellbent on undermining its unity and progress.
ORGANISATIONAL MATTERS
The REC out of the conference declaration developed a blueprint that will serve as the guide of the organisation for the term. In order to fulfil mandate of the 8th Regional Conference the primary focus of the regional leadership will be on rebuilding of functional and campaigning structures in the region. REC condemns the foreign tendencies that were witnessed in process towards the conference which we view as attempts intended influence the outcomes of the conference through manipulation of internal processes and structures that have been out in place with as sole purpose of safeguarding the integrity of organisational processes.
The REC will pay a particular focus to all branches that were unable to participate in the regional conference together with launching of all our sub regional structures to better coordination of organisation in the region. As we prepare for the upcoming LGE the REC is of the view that the PEC and the NEC must see to it that efforts are not spared to ensure that the provincial conference of the Eastern Cape is convened before in May 2026.
The upcoming bi election in ward 5 is a test that the regional leadership will be measured on, it our commitment that all energies will be directed towards a decisive victory of the
ANC.
LOCAL GOVERNANCE & ECONOMY
The ANC has been voted into power because of its commitment to provide quality services and improve the lives of all South Africans. However, the REC noted the ongoing challenges facing our governance structures in delivering these services effectively. The ANC in Joe Gqabi will facilitate an urgent process of holding ANC deployees accountable, including all other sector departments, ensuring that they fulfil their duties and obligations to improve service delivery in our communities. The REC will also work with the ANC PEC to address underperformance and ensure that public representatives are held to account for their lack of action.
The REC has emphasised on need for the Region to come closer to all our institutions with a aim to reposition our region with regards to economic development . In our region we have a development agency namely JoGEDA which in the view of the REC has shifted from its original mandate this must be reviewed as a matter of urgency.
The local economic development offices in our respective municipalities should no longer be “by the way offices”; They must be key driver’s by being central in the execution of the regional economic strategy. The ANC REC leadership with all its structures and deployees must intensify work to build progressive relationship will all traditional councils within the region.
The REC has noted that the region has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons and to an extent deployees in the various councils have put the image of the organisation into disrepute and this will not be left unattended as we prepare for the upcoming local government elections.
GBVF, ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE, AND VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS
The ANC in Joe Gqabi will intensify its campaign against gender-based violence & Femicide (GBVF), alcohol, drug abuse, and violence in schools. These issues not only harm the well-being of individuals but also contribute to the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, poor educational outcomes, and the overall decline of the region’s economy. The ANC strongly condemns all forms of GBV and femicide and calls for the revival of street committees, community policing forums, and ward committees to combat these crimes. The organisation has also called on parents to take responsibility for educating their children about good practices, safety measures, and the dangers of carrying illegal or harmful objects to school.
The REC elected the following comrades to serve in the Regional Working Committee as guided by the constitution in order to revive its daily operational strategy:
1. Mfundo Bongela
2. Nonkongozwelo Lengs
3. Vikita Dontsa
4. Sweetness Mbonyana
5. Mzimkhulu Plaatjie
6. Phallang Makhele
7. Thembile Cawe
8. Vania Davids
9. Nthabi Ntuthu
10.Nosiphele Norman
11.Ndileka Nyongwana
12.Emihle Goniwe – Spokesperson
END!
Issued by Joe Gqabi Regional Executive Committee.
For enquiries please contact:
Regional Spokesperson
Cde Emihle Goniwe: 0737876892
