Controversy-prone ANC Norman Mashabane Regional Secretary, Sonia Ngobeni.
A controversial list of preferred councilor candidates circulating within the African National Congress branches in the Norman Mashabane Region has ignited an internal war.
The list, allegedly drawn up by Regional Secretary Sonia Ngobeni, details the preferred names for the upcoming 2026 local government elections in the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality and the Mopani District Municipality. However, its contents have left the ANC Women’s League deeply insulted.
At the heart of the outrage is the complete omission of the ANCWL Regional Chairperson, Lettie Hlangwana. As the political head of the women’s wing in the region, Mhangwana was widely expected to feature prominently on any strategic leadership list for the district. Instead, her exclusion has been viewed by her supporters as a deliberate attempt to marginalize her and undermine the influence of the Women’s League.
Rebellion in the Branches
The leak has triggered chaotic text messages and tense discussions across various party branches in the Tzaneen and Markshope areas. One specific message circulating alongside the secret list captures the raw anger of the grassroots structures.
It reads, “Hey botsang cde Sonia gore re nyaka ANCWL chairperson cde Lettie Hlangwane.” Translated from Sepedi, the message demands that members directly confront the Regional Secretary and ask why the Women’s League leader has been left behind, insisting that the structures want her included.
This development comes at a time when the Norman Mashabane Region is already dealing with severe political instability. The region has recently been rocked by high-profile resignations of veteran leaders and open warfare between the ANC Youth League and defiant municipal mayors.
By adding a gender-based battle to the mix, regional leaders risk fracturing the party even further ahead of the crucial municipal elections scheduled for later this year.
Slap in the Face for Gender Equality
Members of the Women’s League, speaking on condition of anonymity, have expressed total disgust at the leaked document. They argue that the regional secretary’s actions fly in the face of the ANC’s historic policy on gender equality.
The party has always preached a fifty-fifty gender representation model, especially in local government structures. Sidelining the regional chairperson of the very organ meant to protect women’s interests is seen as a direct insult to all female comrades in the province.
Critics within the region allege that the list is an attempt by the regional leadership to pack the local councils with personal loyalists while silencing independent voices. By excluding a heavy hitter like Hlangwana, the regional leadership is being accused of practicing unfair gatekeeping and factionalism. Many fear that this toxic internal culture is mirroring the exact problems that recently drove other prominent figures out of the party entirely.
High Risks for the 2026 Elections
Political observers warn that these internal list disputes could cost the ANC dearly at the polls on November 4. The Women’s League forms the absolute backbone of the party’s door-to-door mobilization strategy. If the league decides to withdraw its active campaigning machinery because of this snub, the party’s election campaign in Tzaneen and the broader Mopani District could face a total collapse.
In past elections, it was the energetic mobilization by women and youth that saved the ruling party from losing key wards. With opposition parties growing stronger in Limpopo, the ANC can ill afford to alienate its most loyal campaigners over factional candidate lists.
Silence from the Regional Leadership
So far, the office of the Regional Secretary has not released an official statement to confirm or deny the authenticity of the circulating list. Despite the silence from the top, the damage at the branch level seems to be done. The document has already created deep divisions, with branches choosing sides between the regional secretariat and the leadership of the Women’s League.
As election deadlines loom, the pressure is mounting on Sonia Ngobeni and the regional executive committee to fix this rift. The grassroots structures have made their position clear through their circulating messages.
They want Lettie Hlangwane on that list, and they want answers from their Regional Secretary. Whether the regional leadership will adjust the list to restore peace remains to be seen, but the clock is ticking.
ANCWL Norman Mashabane Regional Chairperson, Lettie Hlangwane.