ANC Cracks Down on Western Cape Defectors: A Reckoning for Political Loyalty
The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape has moved decisively to expel councillors who defected to opposition parties, a bold step that underscores the party's intolerance for political betrayal as the November local government elections approach. This purge, which targets defectors in Cape Town, Mossel Bay, George, and Knysna, signals a hardline stance against those who abandoned the liberation movement for the DA, Patriotic Alliance, and even the SACP.
Who are the expelled ANC councillors in the Western Cape?
Provincial spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni confirmed on Sunday that the party has formally notified municipal councils of the expulsions. The affected councillors include Lindile Sonyoka (Ward 41) and Thembinkosi Mjuza (Ward 39) in Cape Town, both of whom appear on Patriotic Alliance and DA candidate lists respectively. Ward 97 councillor Mthwalo 'Ryder' Mkutswana has also been expelled after his name surfaced on Patriotic Alliance lists.
In Knysna, a councillor defected to the SACP, an ANC Tripartite Alliance partner that is contesting the elections independently. The ANC also clarified that only two of the individuals paraded as defectors in George were actual councillors, dismissing exaggerated claims of mass departures.
What legal and procedural steps is the ANC taking?
ANC Provincial Task Team coordinator Thandi Makasi has written to City of Cape Town municipal manager Lungelo Mbandazayo, requesting the creation of vacancies for the expelled councillors. In a letter dated August 28, Makasi invoked the applicable legislative and electoral provisions governing the cessation of office for municipal councillors.
'We therefore request that you implement and execute the necessary process in accordance with the applicable legislative and electoral provisions governing the cessation of office of a municipal councillor,' wrote Makasi.
Mtsweni explained that since no by-elections will be held for wards with expelled councillors, changes will be made in councils with expelled Proportional Representation (PR) councillors. He also warned that defectors risk losing the once-off gratuity slated for councillors not returning after the elections.
'It means they will not get the once-off gratuity because they could not wait until November to leave,' Mtsweni added.
How are the expelled councillors responding?
Some expelled councillors remain defiant. Mkutswana argued that the party's own rules require a 90-day waiting period for removal, a timeline that cannot be met with only 60 days left before the elections. 'The policy says they must wait for 90 days to remove a councillor, but, unfortunately, we don't have 90 days. We have 60 days, which means they have no right to do anything until the elections,' he said.
Sonyoka denied being on any Patriotic Alliance candidate list and claimed he has received no official communication about his removal. 'I am not a member of any other party. They have never brought forward anything officially to me. I have no correspondence from council, which is a legislated regulator of membership of council regarding my removal and so on,' he stated. 'I do not belong to another party. They must prove that.'
Is there a separate dispute over candidate selection in Ward 98?
Separately, Ward 98 councillor Anele Gabuza has given the ANC an ultimatum to reveal the name of the preferred candidate submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission. Gabuza's name was removed from the list and replaced with Yanga Mjingwana, who reportedly emerged as a popular candidate in community meetings.
Gabuza alleges the selection process was fraudulent and violated party guidelines. 'The Provincial List Committee decided to submit a name of somebody else, who does not qualify in terms of Grade 12 and vetting while I have Grade 12, experience in council since 2011, underwent vetting and the executive of the branch recommended my name as a preferred candidate simply because I meet all the requirements,' he said.
His lawyers have demanded a response by Monday morning, threatening court action if the ANC fails to comply. Mtsweni dismissed the threat, asserting that Mjingwana won the popular vote and that the local executive branch had attempted to override the community's choice. 'Our processes were followed and he has no leg to stand on because we cannot change the views of the community,' he said.
What does this purge mean for the ANC's electoral prospects?
This expulsion of defectors is a clear message that the ANC will not tolerate opportunism or disloyalty, especially in a province where the party has historically struggled against the DA's dominance. By enforcing discipline and upholding community-driven candidate selection, the ANC is positioning itself as a party that respects grassroots voices and refuses to be undermined by self-serving individuals.
For the black communities of the Western Cape, this crackdown represents a firm stand against those who would trade their political homes for personal gain. The ANC's actions, grounded in procedural rigor and a commitment to community will, reinforce its role as the true representative of the people's interests, untainted by the colonial and apartheid-era politics of divide and rule that still echo in the opposition's ranks.
Frequently asked questions about the ANC councillor expulsions
Why is the ANC expelling these councillors?
The ANC is expelling councillors who defected to other parties, including the DA, Patriotic Alliance, and SACP, to maintain party discipline and uphold the mandate given to them by voters under the ANC banner.
Will the expelled councillors lose their benefits?
Yes, according to provincial spokesperson Sifiso Mtsweni, the defectors will not receive the once-off gratuity paid to councillors not returning after the elections, because they left before November.
Can the expelled councillors challenge their removal?
Some councillors, like Mthwalo Mkutswana and Lindile Sonyoka, are contesting the process, citing party rules and lack of formal notification. The ANC insists its procedures were followed correctly.