‘I was being disrespected’: SACP member refuses to resign from Ramathuba’s Cabinet

Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse on 30 May 2025 in Pretoria. Picture: Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu The fallout between the ANC and the SACP in Limpopo threatens to cripple the tripartite alliance ahead of the local government elections on 4 November. So serious is the rift that some insiders say it will take a miracle for Limpopo premier Phophi Ramathuba to reshuffle her Cabinet before the municipal polls.

Ramathuba was elected as the first female provincial chairperson of the ANC in Limpopo on 28 March 2026, succeeding Stan Mathabatha. Since her election, pressure has been mounting, including from the ANC Youth League and opposition parties, for her to reconfigure her executive council. Last week, the legislature placed the names of two ANC heavyweights – Mopani District Municipality Mayor Cllr Pule Shayi and Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality Mayor Eddie Maila – on the waiting list to be sworn in as members of the provincial legislature (MPLs).

The two were elected alongside Ramathuba, Polokwane Mayor Makoro ‘John’ Mpe as deputy chairperson, and Vhamusanda Reuben Madadzhe as provincial secretary, as the new top five officials. But for Ramathuba to reshuffle her Cabinet, there must be a vacancy in the legislature. This means two MPLs must first resign.

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Former ANC Youth League deputy provincial chairperson David ‘Che’ Selane resigned from the legislature last month after allegedly being offered a high-ranking position at the beleaguered Great North Transport (GNT) to create space for one of the newly elected officials to be sworn in. But for the second official to be sworn in, theSACP’s provincial secretary Chuene Malebananeeds to resign. However, Malebana toldThe Citizenhe will not resign, “come hell or high water”.

“They have only one option: either they remove me or deal with the fact that I am part of the furniture at the legislature,” he said. Three sources from within the tripartite alliance confirmed that Malebana was offered the lucrative post as Limpopo’s Public Service Commissioner if he agreed to resign. He was expected to assume his duties a day after the ANC conference in March.

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