ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has moved to crush early leadership lobbying in the party, issuing a hard-hitting directive to halt a burgeoning campaign backing billionaire Patrice Motsepe for the ANC presidency at next year’s national conference.
In a strongly worded letter circulated to all ANC structures, from national to branch level, Mbalula ordered the immediate stop to the production, printing and distribution of T-shirts promoting Motsepe under the “PM27 Savumelana” banner, and warned that anyone who defies the instruction will face internal discipline.
According to Mbalula, anyone involved in the PM27 campaign will “face the full might of ANC disciplinary processes”.
Clampdown after Motsepe campaign goes public
The intervention comes just days after the Sunday World reported that Motsepe’s backers, operating through a forum of ANC cadres rallying under the “PM27 Savumelana” slogan, had moved to the next phase of their effort to persuade the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president to “raise his hand” and contest for the ANC’s top office.
The story has dominated political talk since Sunday and appears to have unsettled the ANC leadership at Pixley ka Isaka Seme Street, the party’s Luthuli House head office, prompting Mbalula’s crackdown.
He made it clear in his letter that the PM27 lobby group is out of order and in direct conflict with a decision of the ANC national executive committee (NEC), which has declared all campaigns towards the December 2027 national conference closed for now.
Mbalula reminded leaders and members that the NEC had already spoken on the matter.
“This serves as a reminder that the NEC took a decision which was communicated to all provinces. That no ANC structure or member should engage in leadership contestations ahead of the ANC National Conference to be held in 2027. In this regard, we caution any ANC member to disassociate themselves with the production and distribution of the ‘PM’ t-shirt or its associated leadership campaigns,” wrote Mbalula.
He stressed that the party’s focus should be on renewal rather than succession battles.
“The decision not to engage in leadership campaigns was informed by the fact that all ANC structures must focus their work on rebuilding the organization, which is underpinned by organisational renewal, to enable implementation of our national transformation programmes.”
‘Opponent to the revolution’
Mbalula coupled his instruction with a sharp political warning, framing defiance as a direct challenge to the ANC’s strategic direction.
“Therefore, anyone who engages in acts that contradict this decision by the NEC is to be considered an opponent to the revolution… From henceforth, disciplinary measures will be taken on anyone who violates the NEC directive in this regard.”
The letter leaves little room for interpretation: any lobbying, merchandising or public campaigning for leadership positions ahead of the 2027 conference will be treated as misconduct.
PM27 camp hits back: ‘Hypocrisy’ and ‘double standards’
But if Mbalula expected compliance, the reaction from the PM27 camp suggests an internal showdown is brewing.
Supporters of the Motsepe drive, active across several WhatsApp groups, have begun pushing back hard, accusing the secretary-general of hypocrisy and double standards.
Some in the group argue that Mbalula is now cracking down on Motsepe’s campaign, yet failed to act when he himself appeared to benefit from similar early lobbying at previous ANC gatherings.
One PM27 lobbyist wrote: “Mbalula must first call to order the comrades who were singing ‘sifuna uNobhala for President’ (at the NGC). Thina (we) are moving forward.”
Another supporter hammered home the same point: “Mbaks (Mbalula) never reprimanded the General Council when they sang about Nobhala oneContent, he was happy about that.”
The criticism did not stop there. A third Motsepe campaigner recalled how Mbalula had openly enjoyed support at a regional gathering.
“Not only that. He went to the Tshwane regional congress and danced to the song that was campaigning for him to become president. Why now”?
In their view, the Motsepe lobby is positioning itself as part of the ANC’s renewal rather than a factional project.
“The PM27 is a step towards renewal… That tsunami will torpedo the campaign of nobhala (Mbalula) who started long ago.”
High-stakes race for ANC’s future leadership
Beneath the T-shirt battles and WhatsApp wars lies a much bigger contest over who will lead the ANC into what many insiders see as a watershed congress for the soul of the party.
The campaign machinery ahead of next year’s national conference is already grinding into motion, even if much of it remains underground. Multiple names are being pushed and tested in different provinces, regions and lobby groups.
The PM27 initiative is focused on convincing Patrice Motsepe, the CAF president and prominent businessman, to allow his name to be put forward for the ANC presidency.
At the same time, there are whispers and manoeuvres around other possible contenders, including Fikile Mbalula himself and current ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile, among others. Each is being spoken of in different structures as a potential frontrunner to lead the organisation after the next conference.
Parallel to the fight for the top job, lobbying is intensifying for the powerful position of deputy president of the ANC. A number of senior figures are being courted to stand as second-in-command at the same gathering.
Those being lobbied include Eastern Cape provincial chairperson Oscar Mabuyane, former minister Ayanda Dlodlo, and NEC members Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Maropene Ramokgopa and Mmamoloko Kubayi.
All of this is taking place despite the NEC’s formal line that leadership succession debates are closed and that structures must prioritise rebuilding, organisational renewal and implementation of national transformation programmes.
Discipline vs ambition
Mbalula’s latest directive is an attempt to bring discipline to a party often accused of being consumed by internal contests at the expense of governance.
But the angry pushback from PM27 supporters, and the fact that multiple leaders are already being lobbied behind the scenes, shows how difficult it will be to keep the 2027 succession race on ice.
For now, the secretary-general has drawn a firm line: no PM27 T-shirts, no open campaigning, and disciplinary steps for those who cross the NEC’s directive.
Whether the party’s many factions will respect that line – or continue to campaign “underground” while publicly toeing the official stance – will shape not only Motsepe’s prospects, but also Mbalula’s own ambitions and the balance of power heading into what may be one of the ANC’s most fiercely contested conferences in years.
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