The ANC’s KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary-general Bheki Mtolo is under pressure to turn around the fortunes of the party in the province after it suffered a drubbing in the May national and general elections, political analysts said.
Mtolo had to issue an apology, at the behest of ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, to the party’s alliance partner the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) this week after the union had threatened to haul him to court for alleged defamatory statements.
Mtolo is also under pressure after the recently axed KwaDukuza mayor Lindiwe Nhaca wrote to Mbalula and complained that Mtolo had a vendetta against her.
Political experts said Mtolo is under pressure to resurrect the image of the party in KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini, especially after the Jacob Zuma-led MK Party made significant inroads among voters.
In July, at an ANC event, Mtolo criticised Nehawu, attributing inefficiencies in public sector facilities – such as long queues at Home Affairs, poor service delivery at department of health facilities, and substandard care at Sassa – to alleged negligence by Nehawu workers.
Mtolo’s criticism came after the union had lashed out at the ANC for being part of the Government of National Unity.
In return the ANC-allied union issued a scathing statement criticising Mtolo and last month it filed a R2million defamation case against Mtolo and the ANC.
At a media briefing on Monday, Mbalula said Mtolo’s utterances were unfortunate “and the platform chosen to air such views fuelled the tensions rather than a constructive political engagement between members of the alliance.
“The meeting therefore resolved that Comrade Mtolo, the provincial secretary of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, will issue an unconditional apology to Nehawu and retract his unfortunate remarks.”
Mtolo subsequently apologised and Nehawu said it would withdraw its defamation case.
In a separate incident, Mtolo told a media briefing that the party had resolved to reconfigure KwaDukuza council.
“We have agreed as the PEC (provincial executive committee) that we have to strengthen the ANC and restore its image and effectiveness as a vehicle for fundamental political, social, and economic transformation. In particular, we have taken a decision to strengthen the troika of KwaDukuza local municipality and caucus,” said Mtolo.
KwaDukuza municipality mayor Nhaca was subsequently axed but penned a letter to Mbalula challenging Mtolo’s decision calling it “personal and subjective”.
“I was verbally advised by comrade Mtolo that the ANC has taken a decision to recall me in my capacity as the mayor of KwaDukuza because of ill discipline.
“I was never subjected to any disciplinary inquiry of the ANC, which found me guilty of said ill discipline. Therefore, the decision to remove me from office is personal and subjective, and the rule of natural justice enshrined in the ANC constitution has not been applied,” she said.
Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said Mtolo is feeling the heat of fixing the ANC in the province. “The whole ANC and Mtolo are under pressure, especially in KZN.
“Prior to the elections they even brought big guns such as Thabo Mbeki, but still failed to win this province; that reveals people were fed up with them.”
Zakhele Ndlovu, politics lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal said Mtolo is under pressure to turn things around in KZN.
“Mtolo’s public utterances have not given people hope. We saw what happened on May 29. If the leadership in this province continues with how they are conducting themselves they may not have a chance again in the 2026 local government elections,” said Ndlovu.
ANC provincial spokesperson, Mafika Mndebele, said the party would not comment further on the issues as they had been covered in detail by Mbalula.
The Mercury