North West ANC top five split down the middle over succession race

Contests for top posts in province gaining momentum

- By Mawande AmaShabalala

A showdown is looming in the ANC North West as Premier Lazarus Mokgosi is backed to challenge incumbent provincial chairperson Nono Maloyi for the governing party's top post at the next elective conference, which should constitutionally take place next year when the four-year term that started in 2022 ends.

The Sunday World can reveal that the battle for leadership in the province has split the party's provincial executive committee (PEC) down the middle, with intense jockeying for power stalling attempts to maintain unity. Two camps have now emerged, as anticipation grows ahead of the provincial conference, where the future leadership of the party in the province will be decided.

According to insiders, Maloyi and Mokgosi, his deputy and the current premier, are now set to go toe-to-toe for the influential role of ANC provincial chairperson, exposing deep divisions at the heart of the provincial leadership.

As the two camps form, it is a three-two split at the top, with Maloyi backed by provincial secretary Louis Diremelo and his deputy Viola Motsumi. Mokgosi camp is aligning with provincial treasurer Sello Lehari in the ongoing battle.

While Maloyi is said to have agreed to work together with Diremelo for a second term for both, Mokgosi is building from scratch. The premier is said to be working together with the likes of Finance MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi as well as MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Madoda Sambatha to mount a challenge for Maloyi and company.