The leadership of ActionSA in the Mopani region is currently facing a public display of disarray regarding a planned protest scheduled for today, 30 June 2026, starting at 9:00 AM.
The confusion began when Mopani ActionSA Organiser Mikia Ramothwala actively campaigned for the event on social media. In a statement and poster, Ramothwala encouraged members to participate, claiming that the party had received Section 4 approval. Ramothwala further announced that the march would be joined by National Spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni and directed supporters to meet opposite Wisani. This promotional material features Ngobeni as the main face of the march, highlighting themes such as prioritizing spaza shops for locals and deporting illegal immigrants.
Both Lerato Ngobeni and Mikia Ramothwala in full ActionSA regalia are present at the starting point of the march, actively encouraging people to join the multi-party event. Their presence and public promotion of the march presuppose that ActionSA is an official participant in the protest.
However, the regional chairperson for ActionSA Mopani, Maripe Mangena, released a contradictory notice just before the event. Mangena issued a stern notice for immediate release that effectively distanced the party from the planned shutdown. Mangena explicitly stated that, in accordance with internal protocols, ActionSA members must not participate in the march while wearing party regalia or representing the organisation. He argued that the party could not take accountability for an event where there had been no engagement with the organizers from the highest levels of the leadership.
The notice from Mange clarifies that while the party maintains its official position on the campaign against illegal immigrants and its support for local spaza shops, it refuses to sanction this specific march. The chairperson even included a note stating that any ActionSA leaders or local residents who choose to attend should do so only in their individual capacities or as representatives of other social structures.
This public clash between a regional organiser and the regional chairperson has left supporters and the general public confused about the party’s official stance on the 30 June event. While the promotional poster suggests a high-profile party-led action featuring national leadership, the official notice indicates that the regional leadership is actively attempting to avoid party involvement. This disconnect raises significant questions about communication and hierarchical order within the Mopani region of ActionSA as the protest begins today.
