By Johnathan Paoli
The ANC in Mpumalanga has re-elected its top provincial leadership for a second term, with incumbent chairperson and Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu returning unopposed at the party’s 14th provincial conference held on Friday.
The conference, attended by over 780 eligible delegates, concluded with the confirmation of the province’s “top five” officials.
Ndlovu retained the chairperson position without contest after no nominations were received from the floor.
Accepting his nomination, Ndlovu simply stated: “Yes, I accept the call,” to cheers from the delegates.
He will be joined in the leadership collective by Speed Mashilo as deputy chairperson, Muzi Chirwa as provincial secretary, Nompumelelo Hlophe as deputy secretary, and Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko as provincial treasurer.
Makushe-Mazibuko emerged as the only new entrant in the top five, defeating outgoing treasurer Mandla Msibi, marking the sole leadership change in an otherwise stable executive lineup.
The outcome effectively renews the mandate of the existing leadership bloc, with Ndlovu and his allies securing another term at the helm of the province.
The conference proceedings were overseen by senior national leaders, including Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane, accompanied by NEC deployees Joe Phaahla, Parks Tau, and Nkenke Kekana, alongside resident NEC members Ronald Lamola, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, and David Mahlobo.
Addressing delegates, Tau praised the Mpumalanga structure for what he described as a disciplined and exemplary conference process.
“Exemplary indeed, for many provinces, regions and the entire country. And I think many of us in our respective provinces would wish to emulate the example of Mpumalanga,” he said.
The conference began on Thursday with Ndlovu delivering a political report under the theme of renewing the ANC to deepen service delivery and transform the provincial economy.
By Friday, delegates had moved into the formal electoral phase.
Speaking before the nominations, ANC Veterans League’s provincial chairperson, Dr Nora Fakude-Nkuna reminded delegates the ANC “is not a prize” driven by ambition or patronage, but must emerge through a rigorous democratic process that prioritises integrity and service to the people.
“Consultation, criticism, and self-criticism, collective leadership, and binding decisions are essential. Cadres must embody revolutionary ethics and moral integrity. Careerism, popularism, cliques, and self-enrichment have no place amongst us, and they have no place in the ANC. We must continuously broaden the leadership base while raising its quality leadership,” Fakude-Nkuna said.
The re-election of the leadership comes against the backdrop of Ndlovu’s assertive governance approach over his last term.
In 2025, he undertook a reshuffle in the provincial leadership structures, removing several ANC MECs amid allegations of maladministration, including a controversial R2 million laptop procurement scandal.
The leadership outcome is expected to strengthen Ndlovu’s hand both within the party and in government, as he continues efforts to stabilise provincial administration and drive economic reform initiatives.
The conference included commissions on addressing issues of governance, service delivery and unemployment within the province.
As the conference concluded, the ANC in Mpumalanga presented a united front, with the newly elected leadership collective tasked with steering the province through a critical period marked by governance challenges, economic pressures and the need to rebuild public trust.
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