Since the dawn of democracy, in Limpopo province_ African National Congress Women’s League, members ( ANCWL) have been discriminated against in the leadership role.
The elected of Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, as the first female provincial Chairperson in the ANC, is a milestone achievement for women in politics.
The 11th provincial elective conference was held under the theme ” Advacing ANC Renewal Agenda for Decisive Victory and Accelerating the Democratic Revolution Trajectory.””
It is hosting more than one thousand members from all five district branches at Pieterburg Cricket Club at the heartbeat of the province.
Delegates elected the following members to lead them uncontested:
* Provincial Chairperson Dr. Phophi Ramathumba
* Provincial Deputy Chairperson John Makoro Mpe
* Provincial Secretary Musanda Reuben Madadzhe
* Provincial Deputy Secretary Pule Shai
* Provincial Treasurer Eddie Maila
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavhani couldn’t contain her excitement to congratulate the newly elected provincial Chairperson of the ruling party on social media
” The Chairperson of our time, fit for purpose. We are the descendants of the indomitable people Baobab tree. Those who walked ahead of us_ the pathfinders of our freedom, dared to cross the crocodile infested Limpopo for liberation. The liberation that made it possible for us to have a female chairperson of the ANC in the province for the very first time and in our lifetime, ” said Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
Dr. Ramathuba has served the party as an MEC for health from 2015_2024.
She became premier of the province in 2024 by succeeding former Premier Stanley Mathabatha.
Mathabatha was deployed after Cassel Mathale leadership was dissolved in 2013 for allegedly bankrupting the province funds.
Dr. Ramathuba gained national attention for her outspoken remarks on the influx of illegal immigrants, especially Zimbabweans, for collapsing public healthcare.
She has distinguished her leadership skills as a firm and outspoken leader.
Grounded in healthcare experience, service delivery, and discipline
Her task as a Chairperson now is to unite the diverse members of the party before a tribalism valcono erupts in the Mopani region.
Limpopo is the only province in the country, where three indegingous tribes live peacefully.
Dominated by Bapedi, followed by Va_Tsonga and Vha_ Venda.
In 1996, the party held its provincial elective conference at Tivumbeni Multipurpose Center in Tzaneen, where ANC Veteran George Mashamba was elected as the provincial Chairperson, but was never allowed to become a premier.
Many members perceived it as a tribal issue. However, ANC leadership managed to surpass it.
The newly elected TOP 5 seems to have provoked the 1996 wounds amongst the Va_ Tsonga members within the organization.
It is now, upon the newly elected provincial Chairperson and collective, to address the issue of tribalism that has been overlooked for many years within the province.
The conference will on Saturday deliberate on internal issues and how to secure municipalities ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.
It shall adjourned on Sunday.