Tsietsi Manyama who left the ANC for ActionSA.
The African National Congress in the Mopani District is watching another brick fall from its foundation. Tsietsi Manyama, a long serving member from the Elijah Malatji ANC Branch in Ward 1 of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, has officially ended his relationship with the party.
His resignation is more than just a loss of a member. It is the departure of a leader who spent years building the very infrastructure the party often brags about.
In his resignation letter dated April 26, 2026, Manyama expressed deep sadness but also a sense of necessity. He explained that after years of service since his youth, he no longer found any space for meaningful political contribution. He described an environment filled with gatekeeping, corruption, and petty politics. He also highlighted a worrying trend of political infighting and the deliberate silencing of any views that do not align with the current leadership.
Manyama’s track record in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality is extensive. He was not a leader who simply sat in meetings. He was a man of action on the ground. Between 2013 and 2015, he played a key role in the construction of 721 RDP houses across Pelana, Mantswa, Senopolwa, and Senakwe. He was also instrumental in the electrification of 715 households in the Matipane new stands between 2014 and 2016.
His work continued with the construction of the Morapalala tar road and the installation of high lights at Pelana and Moloko villages. Manyama also focused on healthcare and water, lobbying for the extension of consulting rooms at Senopela clinic and ensuring water pipelines reached the Mantswa new stands. During the tenure of former Mayor Maripe Mangena, Manyama served as a vital part of the support staff in the Mayor’s Office.
This connection to Mangena is significant. Mangena also recently left the ANC, citing similar frustrations with internal squabbles. It appears that the seasoned leaders who actually delivered services to the people are being pushed out. This “Mabahambe” spirit, which tells dissenting voices to simply leave, is creating a massive vacuum of experience within the ANC just before the November 4 elections.
Manyama has not stayed on the sidelines for long. He has joined ActionSA and is already making a major impact in Ward 1. In just two weeks, he reportedly registered more than 70 new members and successfully launched a branch. His recruitment efforts are ongoing, and he is finding that many voters are ready for a change.
While the ANC is busy with internal ultimatums and legal battles with the SACP over dual membership, leaders like Manyama are focusing on the ground. By trading his struggle credentials for a new political home, Manyama is sending a message. He believes that the “Revolutionary House” has become too focused on gatekeeping and not enough on the people. For the voters of Ward 1 and the broader Tzaneen area, his move to ActionSA could signal a major shift in the upcoming municipal polls.
Ward 1 ActionSA Branch members on Sunday.