Newly elected Regional Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in Alfred Nzo, Tsileng Sobuthongo, has questioned the criticism surrounding a potential third term for Oscar Mabuyane as Provincial Chairperson. Speaking to Andile Nomabhunga on Bona Fela Podcast, brought by The Informer Digital TV, Sobuthongo addressed the upcoming provincial conference and the region’s stance on leadership continuity.
Sobuthongo, who is also the Mayor of the Ntabankulu Local Municipality, was asked whether the Alfred Nzo region would support Mabuyane’s re-election. She responded confidently:
“If the branches want Mabuyane to come back, he will have to come back. What’s wrong with that? We don’t have a two-term limit in the ANC. The issue is about your performance in delivering services to the people.”
She emphasized that performance, not term limits, should be the main yardstick for leadership evaluation within the ANC.
Sobuthongo also clarified the region’s call for an early provincial conference. She said the goal is to ensure the ANC is unified and organized ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections.
“Conferences are divisive by nature. If you say we must go to conference and have elections at the same time, that is going to kill the ANC. So let us have the provincial conference in December or February, then go to the local elections with a unified organisation.”
On the contentious issue of political interference in municipal administration, particularly councillors influencing tenders and job appointments, Sobuthongo was cautious. She did not directly confirm the interference but acknowledged the seriousness of the claims.
“Those who witness interference must come forward and report it,” she said.
Sobuthongo made history as the first woman to be elected to lead the ANC in the Alfred Nzo region in the democratic era. Expectations are high for her to address service delivery challenges and uplift communities in what is considered one of the poorest regions in the province.
Join us live on the Informer Digital TV on facebook and Informer Newspaper on You Tube as we explore the life and political career of Tsileng Sobuthongo at 6pm on Thursday the 31st of July.
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