An Executive Mayor in the Eastern Cape deployed by the African National Congress (ANC) has written a deeply emotional letter to the party’s Secretary General, appealing for urgent intervention as she says she now fears for her life.
In a letter dated 4 February, the Executive Mayor of Inxuba Yethemba Municipality, Phyllis Zonke, addressed what she titled a “Deep Appeal for Organisational Justice, Dignity and the Protection of Women Leaders.” The letter was also copied to the President of the ANC Women’s League, Sisi Tolashe, as well as the Eastern Cape ANC Women’s League Deputy Secretary.
In the letter, Zonke details what she describes as sustained ill-treatment, humiliation, and verbal attacks by male comrades within the ANC’s Chris Hani Region. She says the treatment has left her emotionally drained and struggling to continue leading under what she calls “unbearable conditions.”
“I am writing this letter not only as the Executive Mayor of Inxuba Yethemba Municipality, not only as a member of the African National Congress, but as a woman who is tired, hurt, and emotionally drained from trying to lead under conditions that are unbearable,” she wrote. Zonke stressed that she was not writing out of anger, but pain, saying she had reached a point where remaining silent would mean accepting behaviour that is not normal and should not be tolerated.
Zonke alleges that she is routinely insulted, undermined, and verbally attacked by male officials in public settings, including organisational meetings, conferences, and in front of branch members, some of whom are junior to her in experience. She says she has never been privately corrected with dignity, but instead publicly shamed by leaders who are supposed to guide and support her.
She further explained that community service delivery challenges, particularly the ongoing water crisis, have been unfairly placed at her doorstep. According to Zonke, communities in Inxuba Yethemba are experiencing severe water shortages affecting households, hospitals, and boarding schools, with a planned shutdown in Middelburg due to the crisis.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, Zonke pointed out that her municipality is not the water services authority. She said responsibility for water and sanitation lies with the Chris Hani District Municipality. Despite this, she claims she is repeatedly blamed for the crisis, including by the Executive Mayor of the Chris Hani District Municipality, who also serves as the ANC Regional Chairperson.
“What pains me deeply is that when communities protest over water, the blame is placed on me despite the leadership knowing where the responsibility lies,” she said.
Zonke further alleges that at recent regional conferences and constitutional meetings, she was insulted in front of branches and that branches were allegedly influenced not to elect her based on false allegations.
The situation, she says, has now escalated to a level that has left her genuinely fearful for her safety. Zonke claims her name has been publicly mentioned in connection with incidents involving violence and arson, including after a branch chairperson’s car was burnt. She also alleges that her name was dragged into separate incidents where a Speaker reported being held at gunpoint and later when the Speaker’s house was allegedly burnt.
“I am beginning to believe that this environment is being allowed to create conditions where my safety is no longer guaranteed,” Zonke wrote.
Zonke’s letter is a direct appeal to the ANC leadership to intervene decisively, protect women leaders, and restore organisational justice and dignity within the party. She warns that failure to act risks normalising abuse and intimidation, particularly against women in leadership, with potentially devastating consequences.
The ANC had not yet publicly responded to the letter at the time of writing.
No tags for this post.
