SEDIBENG.- Like a cat with nine lives, the political life of Mlungisi Hlongwane seems to be resurrected every time it dwindles.

Hlongwane, the former mayor of Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM), was elected as the ANC Regional Executive Chairperson (REC) over the weekend.

In recent years, Hlongwane has served as an advisor in the office of the former Executive Mayor of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), Jacob Khawe. He is  currently serving in the same office as an advisor for the current ELM Executive Mayor, Sipho Radebe. Among other positions he has held, Hlongwane has also been a South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) Sedibeng Chairperson.

On the other hand, the ANC Gauteng Provincial Task Team (PTT) has welcomed the successful convening of the ANC Sedibeng Regional Conference held from November 21 -23 at the ANEW Hotel in Benoni.

The conference was held under the theme: “Building People’s Power Towards a Capable and an Inclusive Vaal Regional Economy”.

The conference resolved to:

– Rebuild branches as centres of people’s power anchored in service, discipline, and political education.

– Deepen internal democracy by ensuring all members participate meaningfully in decision-making and renewal of mandates.

– Strengthen capacity building to improve planning, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation across all structures so that organisational work aligns with community needs and delivers measurable outcomes.

The conference also agreed that Sedibeng must reclaim its position as a strategic industrial hub in Gauteng and the country. Delegates underscored the need to drive an inclusive regional economy that creates jobs, attracts investment, and broadens opportunities for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Key priorities adopted include:

– Revitalising Sedibeng’s industrial base, attracting new industries while supporting the expansion of existing ones.

– Incentivising investment through competitive industrial packages and developing a strong agricultural value chain.

– Tourism development, including transforming the Vaal River corridor into a vibrant cultural, recreational, and tourism destination.

– Infrastructure upgrades such as improving transport networks, public buildings, utilities, and township economies to enable growth and resilience.

– Development of the Agricultural Industry.

This will place the region at the centre of the world food security chain.

Regional Secretary, Jason Mkhwane, said that the conference reaffirmed that service delivery remains the most urgent concern of communities across Sedibeng, pointing out that delegates resolved to prioritise:

– Equitable access to basic services across all municipalities.

– Improved financial management, including more substantial revenue collection to support stable service delivery.

– Community oversight over service delivery projects to strengthen transparency and responsiveness.

– Critical basic services like water, sanitation, electricity, and housing are the immediate pillars of restoring community confidence and dignity.

The conference elected the regional leadership, which will be led by the following officials:

Chairperson: Mlungisi Hlongwane

Deputy Chairperson: Sibongile Soxuza

Regional Secretary: Jason Mkhwane

Deputy Secretary: Mamohale Moloi

Treasurer: Hassan Mako

Mamohale Moloi is currently the Chief Whip of the Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM), Sibongile Soxuza is the Chief Whip of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), and Hassan Makola is the Finance Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) in ELM.

Mkhwane served as a Regional Secretary (RS) in the last Regional Executive Committee (REC) that was led by Thulani Kunene, who, for a while now, has been a member of the Gauteng Legislature.