NKOWANKOWA, LIMPOPO — Chuene Malebana has been officially elected as the new SACP Limpopo Secretary following the party’s ninth elective congress. The newly appointed leader addressed the media to discuss the outcomes, emphasizing the political maturity of the delegates while criticizing the absence of former leadership figures at the event held near Tzaneen.
During the weekend conference, 300 delegates from across the province uncontestedly elected the new leadership. Malebana, a prominent member of the Limpopo legislature, was elected into the top leadership structure alongside five others. This newly formed executive includes George Phehlajani, who steps in as the provincial chairperson.
A notable point of contention during the gathering was the absence of several outgoing party leaders. Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, the current Limpopo Premier and outgoing Deputy Chairperson, did not attend the congress. Addressing this, Malebana stated that the absence of these outgoing leaders demonstrated a lack of political maturity. He further maintained that Ramathuba and others had misconstrued the party’s decision to contest elections independently, arguing they lacked the maturity to grasp the ultimate aim of the organization. Malebana stressed that the party’s program is focused on freeing all people and ensuring basic needs, such as food and shelter, are met for the masses.
Despite internal dynamics, the congress was highly praised by alliance partners. Rodgers Monama, a member of the ANC provincial executive committee who attended as an ANC deployee, commended the delegates for their discipline and tolerance. Monama noted that the mood of the conference remained positive, appreciating the conduct and political tolerance displayed by the SACP members in handling intra- and inter-organizational contradictions.
Looking ahead, the newly elected SACP Limpopo Deputy Chair, Machike Thobejane, highlighted the conference’s resolution to tackle pressing public concerns. Thobejane explained that delegates discussed actionable strategies to advance socialism in South Africa and take those steps back in their local communities. Describing the event as one of the most excellent conferences the SACP has held in Limpopo, Thobejane noted it set a strong benchmark for the rest of the country.
Delegates echoed this optimism, expressing deep satisfaction with the congress’s outcomes. One delegate urged the new leadership to actively engage with communities, noting that the country is in desperate need of help and that the leadership must demonstrate their strength on the ground. Another attendee emphasized that the successful proceedings reaffirm the SACP’s position as an independent vanguard party dedicated to the working class and the poor.
In a significant move for the party’s organizational growth, the SACP also announced its intention to build its own provincial headquarters in Limpopo. This upcoming development will end a long-standing arrangement where the party has been forced to rent office space in the province for years.
