NKOWANKOWA, LIMPOPO — Following a decisive weekend gathering, Chuene Malebana has officially been named the new SACP Limpopo Secretary. The leadership transition occurred during the party’s ninth provincial congress, where delegates emphasized unity and political maturity amidst notable absences from outgoing officials.
A total of 300 delegates from across the region gathered near Tzaneen to finalize the new executive committee. The voting process concluded without contention, securing Malebana—a prominent figure in the Limpopo legislature—a spot in the top tier. He is joined by five other key figures, notably George Phehlajani, who has been appointed to serve as the provincial chairperson.
The event was marked by the conspicuous absence of several former top brass, most prominently Dr. Phophi Ramathuba. Serving as both the current Limpopo Premier and the outgoing deputy chairperson, Ramathuba skipped the weekend proceedings. Speaking to the press at the conclusion of the event, Malebana suggested that this boycott highlighted a deficit in political maturity among the old guard. He argued that Ramathuba and her allies fundamentally misunderstood the party’s strategic choice to contest elections independently. According to the newly elected secretary, the detractors failed to grasp the organization’s core mandate: liberating the masses by guaranteeing essential services like adequate shelter and food.
Despite the internal friction and missing figures, the atmosphere inside the venue remained highly constructive. Rodgers Monama, who serves on the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), was present representing the alliance as an ANC deployee. Monama commended the attendees for their exceptional discipline. He highlighted the positive mood of the gathering, praising the members for their political tolerance and their ability to navigate complex internal and inter-organizational dynamics without derailing the program.
Setting the strategic direction for the upcoming term, the newly sworn-in deputy chairperson, Machike Thobejane, outlined the assembly’s primary resolutions. Thobejane explained that the central focus is now shifting toward tangible community interventions and advancing the cause of socialism across South Africa. Reflecting on the proceedings, Thobejane described the weekend as one of the most successful and well-executed conferences the party has hosted in the region, expressing hope that it would serve as a model for other branches nationwide.
Grassroots attendees shared this enthusiasm, expressing profound satisfaction with the democratic process. One participant passionately urged the incoming executives to immerse themselves in community work, noting that the nation is “crying for help” and needs leaders who will actively demonstrate their strength on the ground. Another attendee remarked that the seamless execution of the event strongly reinforces the organization’s identity as an independent vanguard dedicated to uplifting the poor and the working class.
In a major infrastructural milestone, the party also unveiled plans to construct its own dedicated provincial headquarters in the near future. This ambitious project will finally allow the organization to own its property, putting an end to a long-term arrangement of renting office space throughout the province.