ANC NEC member Faith Muthambi has been appointed as the chair of the legal and constitutional affairs committee, while Zuko Godlimpi, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition has replaced Mmamoloko Kubayi as the head of the party’s economic transformation.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has reshuffled the subcommittees of the party and provincial deployees with immediate effect.
In a letter sent to members on Sunday, Mbalula said this was to reinforce the committees and apply the principle of rotation.
There are 28 subcommittees, including the Finance Committee, the Economic Transformation Committee, the Renewal Commission, and the Internal Relations Committee, among others.
According to senior ANC NEC members, Kubayi was removed after a recent cabinet meeting in which she and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana disagreed.
The conflict arose as the administration attempted to agree on the national budget for 2025.
Originally set for February 19, the 2025 budget address was postponed because cabinet members were unable to agree on some of Godongwana's main demands.
A contentious 2% VAT rise was one of these suggestions, which was meant to make up for an R60 billion budget deficit. The budget will now be presented on March 12.
Kubayi has been assigned to supervise the NEC representatives' deployment in Limpopo, a crucial party stronghold.
In the ANC's NEC, the chair of the economic transformation committee is a crucial role that has historically been occupied by government representatives from the economic cluster.
In addition, Mbalula announced several party leadership changes, such as the removal of Zizi Kodwa as KwaZulu-Natal deployees’ convenor.
He was followed by Dickson Masemola, a well-known Limpopo leader.
Kodwa was moved to the Northern Cape as an ordinary member of the NEC amid rumours that he would be subject to disciplinary action due to his purported involvement in state capture. He was originally charged with corruption, but the National Prosecuting Authority recently withdrew the charges.
Furthermore, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has taken over as the Gauteng convenor in place of Pemmy Majodina. President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the ANC's renewal committee.
The reshuffle comes ahead of the ANC’s National General Council (NGC) and also a way-maker for the 2026 local government elections.
The NEC deployments and the respective convenors include Dickson Masemola in KZN, Ntshavheni in Gauteng, Kubayi in Limpopo, Joe Phaahla in Eastern Cape, Senzo Mchunu in Mpumalanga, Soviet Lekganyane in the Free State, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali in the Northern Cape, Mdumiseni Ntuli in Western Cape and Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane in North West.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will chair the party’s education subcommittee, while Nomvula Mokonyane will oversee international relations and elections.
Other key appointments include Cyril Xaba for organising, Sibongile Besani for political education, Thabo Makwetla for peace and stability, and Zweli Mkhize for social transformation.
The ANC has committed itself to rigorous renewal and reform to win the local government elections in 2026.
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