‘Heads must roll’ – ANC leaders warn incompetent officials

SPEAKING at the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) national general council (NGC) held in Kimberley this week, ANC leaders said incompetent officials and councillors would be given the boot.

The event, which concluded on September 13, was addressed by ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, and ANCYL president Collen Malatji.

The ANC leaders called for unity, discipline and order, warning that it would be “the biggest betrayal” if ANCYL members failed to ensure victory in the 2026 local government elections.

ANCYL provincial chairperson Venus Blennies-Magage welcomed 4,000 delegates who attended the event at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre.

She also extended condolences following the fatal shooting of ANCYL provincial executive committee (PEC) member Nkateko Mbhoma in Leeudoringstad on September 9, while he and six colleagues were travelling to Kimberley to attend the event.

SAPS North West spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the driver and passenger of a vehicle were arrested, while a rifle and pistol found in their possession were confiscated for further investigation after the driver lost control of the vehicle and was involved in an accident.

He said the individuals claimed they were employed by a private security company contracted to pursue a vehicle suspected of involvement in the theft of Transnet cables.

Mokgwabone added that the police also arrested five other suspects who were found in possession of suspected stolen cables.

“The five suspects admitted to the police that they were fleeing after being pursued and shot at by occupants of a vehicle similar to the one found involved in an accident. This is an ongoing investigation and more arrests are imminent,” said Mokgwabone.

Meanwhile, at the event in Kimberley, Malatji said ineffective mayors should be immediately replaced by young people who were willing to work.

He also expressed concern over the high rate of teenage pregnancies and urged ANCYL branches and regions to address social ills.

“Members must develop programmes and be the first to respond to solve these problems. It must not look like members are only looking for tenders and deployment,” said Malatji.

He added that convicted rapists should be castrated.

Malatji said minerals should not simply be extracted and exported, but instead processed locally to create jobs and industries. “We must speak to our BRICS partners so that minerals are not just taken out of the country,” he said.

Mbalula stressed that party members could ill afford the “luxury of infighting and bickering”.

“The ANCYL must be at the forefront of ensuring that the ANC wins,” he said.

He added that councillors who were not delivering services would be given their marching orders by the president on September 15.

“Those who do not execute their mandate of the ANC must ship out,” warned Mbalula.

Mashatile highlighted the decline in voter support for the ANC to 40 percent in the 2024 national general elections.

He also pointed to the drop in voter turnout — 58.6 percent in 2024 compared to 89 percent in 1999.

“The lowest turnout was in the North West, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.”

Mashatile noted that municipalities, which he described as the “coalface” of government, were facing numerous difficulties.

“Incompetent officials, including ANC councillors, must be removed,” he warned.