By: Moyahabo Mabeba
The political showdown in Limpopo has taken an extraordinary turn as former ActionSA ward leader Thato Julius Ramodipa, popular online as “Khelokhabosiu Meyera wa Tzaneen,” has emerged as a high-profile pawn in the region’s fiercest political and traditional battles.
Ramodipa made headlines following his abrupt resignation as ActionSA’s deputy chairperson for Ward 8 in the Mopani District on 2 September 2026. Requesting his immediate removal from ActionSA structures, his exit came shortly after the sudden removal of Thapelo Molepo as the party’s Polokwane mayoral candidate, highlighting the structural fragility of opposition leadership across the province.
From Political Defector to ANC Campaign Tool
Rather than quietly stepping back, the social media influencer immediately surfaced at ruling party events across the Greater Tzaneen region. Taking to ANC campaign stages, Ramodipa was deployed to launch fierce public attacks against his former party, questioning ActionSA’s operational readiness ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
ActionSA insiders allege that Ramodipa’s dramatic turnaround was fueled by political patronage and bribery from ANC strategists looking to destabilize opposition momentum in key rural strongholds. While the ANC denies these claims, using a recognizable local figure to mock his former political home highlights how aggressively political defections are being weaponised in the province.
High-Court Dramas and Traditional Battles
Ramodipa’s political manoeuvres coincided with his unexpected appearance at the Pretoria High Court. The social media personality was spotted alongside members of the Modjadji Royal Council during their legal bid to review and overturn President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recognition of Queen Masalanabo Modjadji VII.
The court application, driven by a faction seeking to install Prince Lekukela Modjadji as the Balobedu monarch, aims to set aside the President’s December 2024 recognition certificate. Ramodipa’s high-visibility presence alongside the royal council faction underscores his penchant for inserting himself into major provincial power struggles, bridging local municipal politics with traditional royal disputes.
Exploiting Inexperience Ahead of 2026
The ongoing spectacle around Ramodipa exposes a recurring vulnerability for opposition parties relying on new, politically unseasoned figures to build fast grassroots structures. Lacking deep political grounding or institutional experience, local leaders remain vulnerable to political recruitment and external co-optation.
As the 2026 local elections approach, Ramodipa’s transformation from an opposition office-bearer to an ANC campaign speaker and high-court spectator illustrates the turbulent, highly dynamic nature of Limpopo’s political landscape.
Court reserves judgment in Modjadji royal battle
This video covers the Pretoria High Court proceedings regarding the legal challenge against the recognition of Queen Masalanabo Modjadji VII, providing essential context to the court proceedings referenced in the article.