By Marcus Moloko
Gauteng Premier and ANC Provincial Chairperson Panyaza Lesufi has sparked heated debate after posting an image of himself braiding a woman’s hair in one of Gauteng’s informal settlements.
The photo, shared on social media, was intended to showcase a leader engaging directly with residents.
Lesufi joined the ANC West Rand REC for the Motho Mothong Door-to-Door Campaign and engaged residents, reinforcing the call to vote ANC on 03 February 2025.
ANC backers defended the gesture on social media, saying it reflected humility and a willingness to meet communities on their own terms, portraying Lesufi as a politician unafraid to roll up his sleeves.
Critics, however, dismissed it as a desperate campaign stunt amid mounting frustrations over service delivery failures.
The ANC’s vote share in Gauteng fell to 34% in the 2024 general elections, forcing the party into coalition politics.
With local government elections looming, the ANC has intensified grassroots outreach, particularly in informal settlements, to reconnect with voters.
Lesufi has pledged to root out internal divisions and restore the ANC’s credibility.
Social media commentators, including influencer Chris Excel, ridiculed the stunt as trivializing serious governance failures.
Social media commentators highlighted persistent water shortages, electricity instability, rising crime, and pothole-ridden roads.
Leading up to the November 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, the DA launched a series of criticisms against Lesufi, accusing his administration of performing a “cosmetic cover-up” to mislead international delegates
They claim outages and disruptions were deliberately suppressed to impress international delegates, while systemic issues remained unresolved.
The DA, led by provincial leader Solly Msimanga, characterized the sudden surge in infrastructure repairs as “putting lipstick on a pig”.
Lesufi defended the province’s actions, stating that the G20 preparations were part of a long-term plan to clean Johannesburg and reposition the province.
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