ANC North West Cracks Down on Dissent: 17 Incumbent Councilors Expelled for Defection and Rebel Independent Bids
In a major pre-election house-cleaning maneuver, the African National Congress (ANC) in the North West Province has officially resolved to expel 17 incumbent ward councilors accused of violating party lines by defecting to opposition parties or launching rival independent campaigns.
The decision was formalized in an internal correspondence dated 14 September 2026, dispatched from the desk of the NW Provincial Secretary, Louis Diremelo, directly to the party’s Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula.
According to the official communique, the severe disciplinary action stems from “gross misconduct” under the party’s statutory code.
The provincial leadership alleges that the affected councilors actively worked against the interests of the political movement from within municipal chambers and local communities, threatening to fracturing the party’s electoral support base.
“The ANC in the North West Province has resolved to expel a number of incumbent Ward Councillors that are deployed by the ANC and have elected to defect to opposition parties and others are standing as independent candidates whilst still serving as current ANC Councillors,” Diremelo stated in the memorandum.
The province cited Rule 25 of the ANC Constitution, specifically highlighting Rule 25.17.13 read alongside Rule 25.17.14, to legally anchor the expulsions, noting that the rebel politicians have directly disrupted organizational discipline.
The comprehensive list of the 17 expelled individuals features prominent local figures, including Botshelo Moreki, Boipelo Marekwa, Malebo Gaopakala, Dimakatso Sithonga, controversial figure Papi Ratela and Pitso Gulane, among others.
This drastic purge highlights growing institutional anxieties over internal factionalism and structural cohesion as the party aims to mitigate the risk of losing vital municipal wards to independent breakaway candidates and rival opposition fronts.
Neither the national office nor the legal representatives of the named councilors have issued a formal public response to the memo.
- 17 ANC councillors, 2026 Local Government Elections, ANC councillor expulsions, ANC defections, ANC North West, ANC North West councillors expelled, ANC Rule 25, Boipelo Marekwa, Botshelo Moreki, Fikile Mbalula, independent candidates, Louis Diremelo, North West local elections, Papi Ratela, Pitso Gulane
