By Sihle Mavuso
ANC first deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane has unveiled, without naming the full list, a trimmed provincial task team (PTT) for KwaZulu-Natal, as the former governing party seeks to claw back political ground lost to the MK Party in the 2024 general elections.
The reconfigured structure has been cut from 67 to 36 members, and includes new faces such as Sifiso Sonjica, a Durban businessman who served as a member of the provincial legislature (MPL) until May 2024.
Mokonyane said the decision to reduce the size of the structure was driven by inefficiencies and the need to reinforce party structures at regional level.
“It was a too big structure to function. Secondly, there are comrades that we have taken to regions because of their strength and also what we need in the regions,” she said.
“The renewal and the strengthening of the ANC does not end here only in the province — we need more strength in the regions, in the locals. So, many of those comrades have not disappeared from helping to rebuild the ANC.”
Sonjica has been appointed spokesperson of the PTT, a move confirmed by Mokonyane alongside ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu during a media briefing in Durban after meeting appointees for their induction.
The seasoned Sonjica replaces Fanle Sibisi, who has held the position since February last year and will now serve as an ordinary member of the PTT.
Although Mokonyane said the full and final list would be announced on Thursday, a leaked document suggests that Super Zuma, the former provincial secretary and MEC for Agriculture, will head the party’s election machinery in the highly contested province.
Zuma is expected to be deputised by Sizophila Mkhize, a former ANC Youth League leader and current chairperson of the provincial legislature’s portfolio committee on sport, arts and culture.
The provisional PTT also features several familiar names, including former provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo, former treasurer Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba, former KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, now Deputy Minister for Higher Education and Training, provincial legislature Speaker Nontembeko Boyce, and Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Phumzile Mgcina.
Meanwhile, a leaked list of regional task team (RTT) leaders shows Jomo Sibiya, a long-time ally of President Cyril Ramaphosa and current Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour, as convener, with Lungile Mabaso as coordinator.
In eThekwini, once the ANC’s strongest region but significantly weakened by the MK Party breakaway, Thabani Nyawose has been named convener, replacing Don Gumede.
Nyawose is the current speaker of the eThekwini municipality and lost the 2022 regional chair race to Zandile Gumede.
Thanduxolo Sabelo will serve as coordinator, replacing Simiso Mkhize.
Sabelo, a former provincial ANC Youth League leader, is now an ordinary councillor after his 2022 removal as chairperson of the economic development portfolio committee.
At the 2022 eThekwini regional conference, Sabelo ran as Nyawose’s deputy regional secretary candidate but lost to Nkosenhle Madlala, aligned to Gumede.
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina, widow of former NUMSA president Cedric Gina, will serve as convener in the Musa Dladla region (King Cetshwayo), with Mthokozisi Dlamini as coordinator.
In the Tolomane Mnyayiza region (Ugu), former regional secretary and Umdoni municipal manager Xolani Luthuli has been named convener, with Nkazimulo Mavundla as coordinator.
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