This after the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC) took a decision to remove Molapisane from his position, amid allegations that the mayor was arrogant, stubborn and selfish. The mayor was also accused of failing to take instructions from his higher-ups.

A source within the ANC in Norman Mashabane said Molapisane upset his party on a few occasions, including:

• Not contributing to the cost of buses needed to ferry party members to the ANC January 8th celebrations in Moruleng, North West,
• Refusing to contribute to the Limpopo ward councillors nominations lunch at the Giyani Stadium, and
• Not contributing to the Workers Day event held at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

“He further refused to bankroll the hiring of gazebos for the jamboree at the venue,” said the source.

ANC Limpopo accused of purging

But his political ally, secretary for Desmond Mahasha Ward 8 in the Bolobedu South area, Luwie Raphotle, accused the ANC in Limpopo of purging.

“You see, all these accusations have nothing to do with service delivery issues. Molapisane is a real workhaholic, with the best interest of the community at heart. Since his entrance in Tzaneen six years ago, he has won the national cleanest town award twice and the coveted November 2025 Best Performing municipality award in Limpopo… even a blind man can see that the ANC in Limpopo just wants to taint his image because this man refused to be corrupt,” said Raphotle on Friday.

Molapisane refuses to step down

On Tuesday, Molapisane was called to the ANC regional offices in Tzaneen by the party’s regional leadership and asked to tender his resignation.

The source, however, said a heated exchange took place, with Molapisane refusing to step down.

In the Sepedi language, Molapisane losley translates to Troublesome.

Tshepho Leseilane, a political activist and ANC member in ward 33 in the Thlabina area, was not impressed by the mayor digging his heels in, adding that Molapisane means ‘trouble’ in Sepedi.

“When your bosses give you an instruction, you must implement without any questions. Molapisane is the kind of a leader who does not want to be led, but to lead. In the ANC, we are deployed to serve. But Molapisane does not want to serve, he always wants to be served,” he said.

Contacted for comment, ANC Norman Mashabane regional spokesperson Peter Ngobeni said the matter will be dealt with by the party’s provincial leadership.

ANC Limpopo provincial spokesperson, Tonny Rachoene, said he would not comment until an official statement had been issued.

At the moment, it is not known if Greater Tzaneen Municipality has a mayor or if Molapisane will be impeached at the upcoming special council sitting.

President Cyril Ramaphosa respects the Constitutional Court’s judgment and reaffirms his commitment to the Constitution, the independence of the Judiciary and the rule of law.

President Ramaphosa has been consistent in providing his full assistance to the various enquiries into this matter.

President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favour or prejudice.

The President calls on all South Africans to respect the Constitutional Court judgment and all judicial institutions.

The Section 89 report, which was tabled before Parliament in December 2022, found Ramaphosa may have violated his oath of office and the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.

However, the report was not adopted by Parliament, with the African National Congress (ANC) using its majority in the house to vote against it.

The Constitutional Court said the vote was unconstitutional and has set it aside.

Chief Justice Mandisa Maya handed down the ruling.

“It is declared that the vote of the National Assembly taken on 13 December 2022, declining to refer the report to the independent panel to an impeachment committee as envisaged in the NA [National Assembly] rules, is inconsistent with the Constitution, invalid and it is set aside. The report of the independent panel is referred to the impeachment committee established in terms of the NA rules…”

Opposition parties have called it a slap on the wrist for the ANC councillor.

Last year, a forensic report commissioned by the municipality found Modise violated the code of conduct for councillors by not declaring his interest in Triotic Protection Services, which currently has a multimillion-rand security tender with the municipality.

Prior to becoming a councillor for the ANC in Tshwane, Modise owned the company.

The elective conference, supposed to be held on 30 April, was temporarily halted after two concerned party members successfully applied for a court interdict to prevent it from going ahead.

ANC North West region held a conference despite court order halting it

However, the regional leadership decided to defy the court order and asked delegates to gather and proceed.

ANC interim regional coordinator Walter Mabogola was fingered for allegedly instructing the delegates to assemble for the official opening of the conference in total disregard of the court order.

In a letter to the ANC North West provincial secretary, Louis Diremelo, and Mabogola, Mbalula demanded that the region submit to his office a sworn written explanation no later than last Saturday about which party constitutional and statutory authority empowered them to issue a notice to hold the conference of 30 April.

It is not known whether this was done by the region or in time.

Conference irregular

Mbalula said the conference was irregular and neither sanctioned by his office nor by the ANC.

Therefore, the elected regional executive committee and the resolutions adopted ere were to be suspended forthwith.

All resolutions and actions of the interdicted conference were suspended pending the final court decision on whether the interdict may be appealed, which is due to be heard this Friday.

“Comrades, the ANC is a constitutional movement.

‘Constitutional movement’

“The movement’s discipline requires that, even when decisions of the courts are perceived to be in error, the proper response is to invoke the appellate procedures provided by the Superior Courts Act, not to disregard the court’s authority,” Mbalula wrote.

“The interests of the movement are not advanced by conduct that places its leadership in personal jeopardy of committal proceedings.

“The office of the secretary-general defends the ANC from within and from without including, where so required, by speaking the truth to its own structures.”

Addressing supporters at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane during Workers’ Day celebrations, Mashatile urged members to campaign with conviction, insisting that victory was assured.

Analyst warns of declining support

But political analysts say his optimism masks a harsher reality- the ANC’s support is dropping, coalitions are becoming the norm, and the party’s dominance of decades past is unlikely to return.

Political analyst Theo Neethling said, as expected from politicians, Mashatile set expectations high and presented the ANC’s prospects in an optimistic light.

“Nevertheless, current trends suggest the ANC is likely to perform even worse than in the recent national general election,” Neethling said.

“It is important to emphasise, however, that the ANC’s support remains unevenly distributed geographically.”

The party is likely to perform relatively better in rural areas, where historical loyalties and organisational networks remain more entrenched.

“In urban centres – and particularly in the major metros where voters tend to be more critical and demanding – it appears almost inevitable that the ANC will lose even more of its dominance, or majority, and be compelled to share power with other parties.”

Coalition politics expected to dominate outcomes

Neethling said there is a strong likelihood coalition politics would dominate the outcome of this year’s elections, with significant variation in performance across provinces and municipalities.

South Africa has already reached a point where coalitions have become a defining feature of national and local politics, and all indications are that this trend will continue, he said.

“In this context, a return to the ANC’s dominant position of two to three decades ago appears increasingly unlikely – if not simply wishful thinking,” he said.

Survey suggests ANC support could fall further

Political analyst Prof André Duvenhage said when looking at all the surveys undertaken and also taking a look at the political environmental analysis, it was absolutely clear that the ANC’s support was going down.

“And in some surveys, it’seven going below 30%, so I have no doubt that we are in a phase where the ANC may lose support. I think of about 70 hung councils we had after 2021,” he said.

“This may probably double or at least increase largely when it comes to the 2026 election. So, I am not seeing any result in this regard that the ANC can increase.”

Duvenhage said the party in its current state may not win the elections, adding maybe it might do well in the rural areas, but not in the urban areas.

“So, I think Paul Mashatile is sitting across us, as he is missing out on the reality. I have no doubt that he is going to lose out on this process,” Duvenhage said.

“Limpopo, the rural areas of Limpopo, the rural areas of eastern KZN will go uMkhonto weSizwe [MK] party’s way and Inkatha Freedom Party’s way.

“I’m not seeing any strong support for ANC. So, my estimate is 13 to 35%.

“The ANC does not have a lot of time; it needs to do a huge run to change itself. There’s no chance of it reaching a 50% plus support on a national basis. That is not to say itcan’t win certain local structures out of the 257, but definitely not asa majority support.”

Morale boosting versus electoral reality

Another analyst, John Molepo, said Mashatile is just trying to boost morale and confidence among the electorate and the volunteers.

“But the polls and many patterns have shown that the ANC is declining,” said Molepo.

“Look at how the majority of its members in Limpopo have now joined ActionSA, MK party and EFF.

“It tells you that the party might not get what it is used to.

“But in Limpopo, the ANC will still win, and we are going to see the new incoming political parties taking a few seats in councils. When looking at the metros, we are likely to see a coalition.”

However, he said if the ANC wants to do well, it might be careful about its candidates and address corruption because that was vital in local government elections.