Tensions Rise in Buffalo City Over ANC Mayoral Process and Allegations of Favouritism

Allegations of Favouritism in Mayoral Candidate Selection

Serious accusations have emerged from the Buffalo City branch of the ANC Youth League, as Loyiso Mkubelo, regional chairperson, publicly challenged ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula’s involvement in choosing the party’s mayoral candidate for the metro. Mkubelo alleges that party leadership excluded three mayoral hopefuls in favour of incumbent Mayor Princess Faku, who has pledged her support for Mbalula’s presidential bid.

Youth League Chair Writes to ANC Leadership

Mkubelo, in a strongly-worded letter dated Friday, called for Mbalula’s recusal from the candidate selection process. The letter, directed to senior ANC officials and the national executive committee, outlines concerns of factionalism, purging, and favouritism within the ANC’s Dr WB Rubusana region, which spans areas including KuGompo City (formerly East London), Mdantsane, and Qonce (formerly King William’s Town).

Mkubelo stated that his letter was prompted by events at an ANC rally in Zwelitsha, where Faku, also the region’s ANC chairperson, used the platform to publicly endorse Mbalula for the ANC presidency, even claiming support from all local ANC branches for his candidacy.

“Such public endorsements, made in the name of the entire region without an appropriate organisational mandate, have the potential to incite unnecessary divisions and deepen existing factional tensions,” Mkubelo wrote.

He characterized the endorsement as “politically irresponsible,” especially with critical elections approaching.

‘Double Standards’ Alleged Against National Leadership

Mkubelo further accused Mbalula of failing to apply consistent standards within the party, claiming the secretary-general has previously chastised branches for premature electioneering, yet “no comparable intervention” was made when Faku publicly supported him.

When approached for comment, Mbalula dismissed the allegations, stating, “I don’t respond to nonsense. It’s an open letter, it’s rubbish.”

Claims of Sabotage and Exclusion

The letter outlined a series of incidents alleging that the three other mayoral candidatesNcedo Kumbaca, Piya Dzengwa, and Nocawe Mafuwere sidelined from campaign activities. Mkubelo asserted that the candidates were not briefed on their roles, denied campaign resources, and not invited to official events, sometimes being actively barred from participating in campaign work.

• The region’s WhatsApp group was allegedly used to promote Faku as the “incoming mayor.” Members sharing updates about other candidates were reportedly removed from the group.
• Mkubelo also accused local government resources of being misused to support a “factional campaign” aligned with Faku, referencing the involvement of an individual known as “comrade Clara.”

He said he is prepared to present evidence for these allegations on appropriate platforms.

Public Debates and Lack of Access

Mkubelo claimed Faku refused to participate in all public debates with candidates from other parties. Party representatives were instead sent to radio debates, while the three sidelined mayoral candidates were kept from these forums. According to Mkubelo, “it is a disservice to the organisation that Princess Faku has blatantly refused to participate in all public debates with candidates from other parties.”

Youth League Marginalised in Regional Structures

According to the letter, the ANC Youth League has been excluded from meetings of the regional executive committee and replaced at the leadership’s convenience. Mkubelo further alleged that ANC branch leaders have been threatened or discouraged for allowing youth league election initiatives in their communities.

Concerns Over Social Relief Distribution

Mkubelo accused regional leaders of distributing social reliefsuch as blankets and grocery parcelsbased on political loyalty rather than genuine need. He called for the national executive committee to ensure that social aid is distributed by the appropriate government departments and not used for “political patronage.”

Municipal Services and Audit Woes

The letter highlighted ongoing governance challenges in Buffalo City, including negative audit outcomes under Faku’s administration. Residents reportedly deal with inaccurate billing, inadequate infrastructure maintenance, and unreliable water supply, often relying on water tankers due to dry taps. Mkubelo described these as symptoms of deeper systemic issues within the metro’s governance.

Party Divisions and Defections

Mkubelo warned that the ongoing exclusion and alleged factionalism have led disaffected party members to join smaller opposition parties, which are reportedly gaining traction in Buffalo City. He also referenced the disputed legitimacy of the region’s last ANC conference, noting that its outcome remains contested in court despite Faku’s re-election as regional chairperson at that event.

Legal Disputes and Leadership Controversy

Mkubelo pointed to ongoing legal disputes over the province’s ANC leadership structure, including multiple court cases and the appointment of a provincial task team later declared unlawful by the High Court. The party is seeking legal remedies, with further action pending at the Supreme Court of Appeal.

The letter further accuses Mbalula of undermining provincial leaders, highlighting a reported incident where he referred to them as “witches,” which Mkubelo said is “unbecoming” of the secretary-general’s office and risks damaging the party’s image.

Call for Intervention and Party Unity

Concluding his letter, Mkubelo urged the ANC’s national executive committee to investigate the Buffalo City region and mediate between senior leaders and the youth league. He stressed the importance of fairness and equal opportunity for all mayoral candidates and cautioned that the party cannot afford to approach upcoming elections “divided, weakened by factionalism and disconnected from the communities it seeks to serve.”