Mayor Babalwa Lobishe accuses ANC comrades of undermining her leadership, while provincial officials warn that internal squabbles cannot derail governance in election season.
The controversial leasing of a R25-million transformer has exposed deep fractures within the ANC in Nelson Mandela Bay, with senior provincial leaders warning that the divisions could affect services -- a scenario they cannot afford in a local government election year.
The rifts also threaten the party's touted unity ahead of its upcoming provincial elective conference.
On Tuesday (3 March), Eastern Cape provincial chairperson Oscar Mabuyane said ANC members should be prioritising serving the people instead of indulging in internal squabbles, while provincial spokesperson Yanga Zicina warned that the party "cannot afford to have such an environment leading up to elections".
The divisions are laid bare in a letter sent on 25 February to ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukaitobi from NMB mayor and regional chairperson Babalwa Lobishe, who said while opposition councillors were silent on her conduct, her own comrades were "plotting my demise".
Lobishe also sent the 40-page letter to Mabuyane and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.
In the letter, Lobishe said that factions in the region that emanated from a November 2025 conference compromised the unity of the party, as internal talks relating to the transformer issue resulted in some within the ANC calling for her to take special...
