THOHOYANDOU - ANC Limpopo chairperson Poppy Ramathuba has issued a stern warning to underperforming councillors and mayors ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
Ramathuba has made it clear that poor performance will not be tolerated.
Addressing supporters at the ANC’s Mandela Legacy Rally at Makwarela Stadium in Thohoyandou, she said the governing party is prepared to recall deployees who fail to deliver, even if it means making changes on the eve of the elections.
The rally took place just a short distance from Thohoyandou Stadium, where the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) launched its local government election manifesto.
While the timing and proximity sparked speculation of political point-scoring, the ANC has dismissed claims that it deliberately staged the event to counter the EFF.
Instead, the party says the focus remains on strengthening governance and improving struggling municipalities across Limpopo.
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Ramathuba revealed that the ANC has already begun reconfiguring its provincial management teams, with several mayoral changes aimed at placing skilled and capable leaders in municipalities where performance has been lacking.
She stressed that accountability remains central to the party’s renewal efforts, saying the ANC cannot expect to win elections if it fails to hold its own deployees accountable.
According to Ramathuba, those who are unable to perform will be redeployed to positions better suited to their abilities, making way for leaders who can deliver.
ANC National Executive Committee member Enoch Godongwana echoed that message, saying effective leadership and reliable service delivery are critical to fixing local government.
Godongwana said municipalities need leaders who are equipped to meet the challenges facing communities and ensure that essential services are delivered where they matter most.
The rally also highlighted growing political tensions between the ANC and its long-time alliance partner, the South African Communist Party (SACP), following the SACP’s decision to contest the November local government elections independently.
Ramathuba acknowledged that the ANC had accepted the SACP’s decision, although it was not the party’s preferred outcome. She said the ANC remains focused on securing a decisive victory in Limpopo, adding that the SACP would have to contest the elections on its own.
Despite the political shifts, Ramathuba expressed confidence that the ANC will retain control of all 27 municipalities in Limpopo when voters head to the polls in November.
- Watch video for full report by Siphamandla Goge