ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula received a rousing welcome at the ANC Sekhukhune regional elective conference, where party leaders raised concerns about mining companies’ failure to benefit local communities. The two-day conference, held at Boiketlong Lodge outside Jane-Furse, brought together ANC heavyweights including Limpopo Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba and ANC Youth League President Collen Malatji.
Malatji criticized mining houses in Sekhukhune—home to 27 mines—for not contributing to local development, despite the region’s mineral wealth. “This region is rich, yet it remains one of the poorest. The new leadership must address this,” he said. ANC Gauteng leader Lebogang Maile echoed these concerns, noting that most mine workers come from outside Sekhukhune. “This is not right. Something must be done,” Maile insisted.
The conference, praised by Mbalula as a “symbol of unity,” concluded without disputes—a rarity in ANC gatherings. Mbalula urged party members to resolve conflicts internally rather than through courts, emphasizing unity ahead of the 2026 local elections. “When you lose a conference, rally behind the winners,” he said, to cheers.
New leadership, including Sekhukhune District Mayor Minah Bahula as regional chair, was elected unopposed. Mbalula hailed Limpopo’s strong ANC support and praised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership, stating, “Under Cyril, the ANC will thrive.”
The event revived discussions about Thabo Mbeki’s 2002 call for equitable resource allocation in Sekhukhune, underscoring ongoing tensions between mining profits and community needs.
