POLOKWANE – Tensions continue to mount ahead of the ANC’s Peter Mokaba Region conference, with unresolved branch-level disputes casting doubt on whether the event will go ahead as planned this weekend.
Despite protests by aggrieved members on Wednesday, Regional Task Team spokesperson Adolph Rapetswa insists the conference will proceed.
He reaffirmed the team’s position in a statement to Polokwane Observer on Thursday, saying the event is still scheduled as per the recently confirmed dates.
On Wednesday, frustrated members from various regional branches demonstrated outside the ANC’s Limpopo headquarters, Frans Mohlala House in Biccard Street eventually leading to the Polokwane Council Chambers.
@polokwanereview Tensions continue to mount ahead of the ANC’s Peter Mokaba Region conference, with unresolved branch-level disputes casting doubt on whether the event will go ahead as planned this weekend. Despite protests by aggrieved members on Wednesday, Regional Task Team spokesperson Adolph Rapetswa insists the conference will proceed. He reaffirmed the team’s position in a statement to Polokwane Observer on Thursday, saying the event is still scheduled as per the recently confirmed dates.#ReviewOnline #Limpopo #Polokwane #FYP #ANC #PeterMokaba ♬ original sound – plkreview
The protesters, who claim to be part of Mamedupi Teffo’s slate, accused the Provincial Dispute Resolutions Committee (PDRC) of approving the conference date despite several disputes lodged regarding alleged undemocratic processes during recent branch general meetings.
The group alleges that in certain branches, meetings were intentionally collapsed and branch executives were handpicked instead of being democratically elected—effectively allowing delegates aligned to John Mpe to dominate the upcoming conference vote.
Mpe, the sitting convener and former chairperson, is seeking a third term and faces opposition from Teffo.
Protesters claim 49 out of 103 branches have filed disputes, citing issues such as parallel meeting packages and scheduling irregularities.
If these are not resolved, the region may not meet the required 70% threshold to hold the conference.
Calls for the disbandment of the regional team and provincial intervention have intensified.
ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka confirmed that grievances have been received and are under review, however, he could not say whether the national and provincial dispute resolution committees would finalise their assessments in time.
“We remain hopeful that by the time the conference sits, all matters will be resolved,” Machaka said, adding that the process should not hinder the event if the disputes are addressed appropriately.
Rapetswa said the team had received 39 formal disputes from the PDRC, five of which had been resolved by Tuesday. He suggested the protesters were acting outside internal party processes and called into question the legitimacy of their concerns.
“These are not genuine grievances. Some members appear to be rented and the coordinator of the protest remains unknown,” he said.
“We are working within a strict six-month mandate which began in December when the previous executive’s term ended.”
