Eastern Cape ANC Chairperson Oscar Mabuyane has alleged that a coordinated and well-funded campaign is underway to destabilise the African National Congress (ANC) in the province, claiming foreign intelligence interests and local political actors are working together to weaken the governing party ahead of future elections.
Speaking on the growing political tensions in the province, Mabuyane said there was a deliberate effort to fragment the ANC and render it incapable of effectively serving the people of the Eastern Cape.
“There is a concerted effort and a plot to fragment and unseat the ANC in the Eastern Cape and turn it into an organisation incapable of serving the people of this province,” Mabuyane said.
The ANC leader went further, alleging that the campaign is receiving support from Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. According to Mabuyane, operatives linked to the agency were in the province several months ago and met with AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
“Mossad was here a few months ago with uKumkani Dalindyebo. Their objective is to pave the way for MKP and ATM to take over,” he claimed.
Mabuyane alleged that certain traditional leaders and ANC members were actively involved in the effort to undermine the party’s structures and influence in the province. He said the campaign was being driven through a network of political and traditional figures working in tandem to shift support away from the ANC.
“They are using two kings, led by Dalindyebo, together with certain ANC leaders in the Eastern Cape,” he said.
The remarks come amid heightened political competition in the province, where emerging parties have intensified efforts to challenge the ANC’s long-standing dominance. Both the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) have sought to expand their support bases in key regions of the Eastern Cape.
Mabuyane warned that the ANC could not afford complacency in the face of what he described as a coordinated attempt to capture and weaken the organisation.
“We are fighting a difficult battle. We cannot rest while forces seek to capture the ANC, weaken it, and create conditions for MKP and ATM to take control of the province,” he said.
His comments are likely to spark debate within political circles, particularly regarding the allegations involving foreign intelligence operations and traditional leadership structures. At the time of publication, no evidence had been publicly presented to substantiate the claims.
The ANC in the Eastern Cape remains one of the party’s strongest regional structures, making the province strategically important in the national political landscape. Mabuyane’s remarks underscore growing concerns within the organisation about internal divisions and the challenge posed by rival political formations as the battle for voter support intensifies.