Johannesburg, Gauteng – The African National Congress (ANC) has been plunged into a fresh legal crisis as Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula faces a high-stakes court battle that could see him committed to prison for 60 days. The move follows allegations of contempt of court regarding a disputed regional conference in the North West province that proceeded despite a judicial halt.
The urgent application, brought before the Johannesburg High Court, seeks the imprisonment of Mbalula along with North West provincial secretary Louis Diremelo and regional coordinator Walter Mabogola. The trio is accused of defying an interim court order that was meant to stop the 10th regional conference of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.
A 'Rebel' Conference in Christiana
The drama unfolded at a lodge in the Christiana area of the Lekwa Teemane municipality. For days, delegates had been locked in legal wrangling over branch credentials and representation. Tensions peaked on Thursday morning when acting Judge Jacques Minnaar granted an interim interdict restraining the party from continuing with the conference.
Despite the court's clear instruction, a notice was allegedly issued just hours later, instructing delegates to assemble for the official opening. The conference reportedly went ahead as planned, leading to the current contempt of court proceedings.
"The discipline of the movement requires that, even where decisions of the courts are perceived to be in error, the proper response is to invoke the appellate procedures… not to disregard the court's authority," a document from Mbalula's office later recorded.
Mbalula's Defensive Manoeuvre
In a dramatic twist, Mbalula has now issued a letter declaring the very conference at the centre of the dispute to be "irregular and unsanctioned." The Secretary-General claims his office did not authorise the proceedings and that any nominations or elections flowing from the event are of "no force or effect."
The letter, dated 1 May 2026, appears to be a strategic move to distance the national office from the actions of the provincial and regional structures. Mbalula has demanded a sworn written explanation from Diremelo and Mabogola, addressing the authority on which the conference was convened despite the court order.
"The office of the secretary-general defends the African National Congress from within and from without – including, where so required, by speaking the truth to its own structures," the letter concluded.
The Fight for Justice: Seleseng and Kala
The legal challenge was brought by ANC members Kenewang Seleseng and Kitso Kala, who argue that the party leadership had no intention of complying with the law. In their founding affidavit, they note that the ANC's legal team was present in court when the interdict was granted, making the decision to proceed even more blatant.
"The respondents do not intend to comply with the interim order," the affidavit states. The applicants are now pushing for the maximum penalty for contempt, arguing that the authority of the judiciary must be upheld.
The North West province has long been a battlefield for internal ANC factions, with regional conferences often serving as a flashpoint for disputes over power and patronage. This latest incident is seen as a significant test for Mbalula's leadership and the party's ability to maintain internal order.
A Systemic Failure of Discipline
Political analysts say the defiance of court orders has become a worrying trend within the ruling party. "When the highest office in the ANC is accused of contempt, it sends a message that the law is optional," says a Pretoria-based political commentator. "Mbalula's attempt to declare the conference irregular after the fact might save him from jail, but it doesn't hide the deep divisions within the party."
The High Court is set to hear the full merits of the dispute this coming Friday, with the contempt application being considered in the same proceedings. If the court finds against Mbalula and his colleagues, the political fallout could be devastating for the ANC as it navigates a challenging political landscape.
For now, the nominations and leadership declarations from the Christiana conference remain in limbo. The national disciplinary committee has also been reserved the right to investigate the conduct of the office-bearers involved.
As the legal war intensifies, the ANC finds itself once again fighting its battles in the courtroom rather than on the ground. For the members in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, the wait for a legitimate and united regional leadership continues.
