Princess Faku has all but cemented her comeback as Buffalo City Metro mayor after the 2026 local government elections. This as she clinched her second term as the Dr WB Rubusana ANC regional chair in the early hours of Thursday. This makes her the frontrunner as ANC candidate for mayorship come the 2026 municipal elections.
In an unexpected development, Faku was uncontested for her second stint at Rubusana House, the party’s regional office in East London. While a fierce leadership contest was expected between the metro’s warring ANC factions, the Imvula faction led by outgoing regional secretary Antonio Carels, and Faku’s Ilanga, Faku had an easy day in the office after her position as regional chair was not challenged. Faku was initially meant to battle it out with Vuyo Jali, and possibly a manager at her office and once close ally, Mbasa Satyi.
Jali pulled out from the contest at the 11th hour, as he declined nomination to contest for the region’s top political post on Thursday. Faku and Jali were the only two candidates that had made the threshold from branch nominations to stand for the chair position. Satyi’s name was meant to be raised from the conference floor.
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However, this was not to be, leaving Faku as the only available candidate. Two jovial delegates aligned to Faku said they were glad conference fever had come and gone, saying her victory would now pave the way for her return to the City Hall for a second term.
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