The African National Congress (ANC) in Johannesburg has accused the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) of fuelling divisions within the party by alleging that the recent regional leadership election process was rigged.
Johannesburg ANC Regional Secretary Sasabona Manganye says SANCO’s claims are creating factions within the organisation and undermining internal democracy. This follows reports that ballot papers were allegedly found at a house in Centurion belonging to the officer who presided over the ANC’s 16th Regional Conference held in December 2025.
Manganye addressed the matter during a media briefing at the Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg, where he dismissed the allegations and insisted that the leadership was democratically elected.
He emphasised the ANC’s long-standing alliance with SANCO, COSATU and the South African Communist Party (SACP), but warned against actions that threaten unity.
“As the oldest liberation movement on the continent and a principled Alliance partner to SANCO, COSATU and the SACP, the ANC affirms the historic importance of principled engagement within the Alliance. However, we categorically reject any conduct that undermines organisational discipline, unity and internal democracy through media grandstanding and factional alignment,” Manganye said.
He explained that the ANC Electoral Commission which oversaw the conference was properly constituted by deployees from the ANC’s National Executive Committee, the Provincial Task Team, Alliance partners, ANC leagues, as well as an independent election agency appointed by national structures.
Manganye named senior ANC leaders, including Sihle Zikalala and Mahlengu Bhengu, among those involved in ensuring the credibility of the process.
“This process was inclusive, credible and constitutionally sound, decisively refuting all insinuations of manipulation,” he added.
The Regional Executive Committee (REC) has also expressed concern over what it describes as the silence of the ANC’s Provincial Task Team (PTT), at a time when it believes efforts are underway to delegitimise the outcomes of the regional conference and destabilise the party in Johannesburg.
Manganye said ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, through Provincial Coordinator Hope Papo, had confirmed that all disputes relating to the conference would be handled by the ANC Electoral Commission in line with the party’s constitution.
He stressed that internal election matters fall solely under the authority of the Electoral Commission.
“No individual or structure has the authority to bypass, override or criminalise ANC political processes. The ANC is not governed by the police,” Manganye said.
Meanwhile, COSATU in Johannesburg, which formed part of the electoral commission observing the conference, has come out in support of the process, saying the elections were conducted fairly.
In a statement, the labour federation confirmed it attended the 16th Regional Conference held at Cedarwoods Conference Centre from 3 to 5 December 2025.
“COSATU formed part of the collective of the electoral commission that observed the process and indicated to delegates that the elections were run fairly. It therefore comes as a surprise that the conference and its elected leadership are now facing claims that seek to destabilise the democratic process,” the statement read.
COSATU added that the leadership elected at the conference reflected the will and mandate of the delegates present.
