3 September 2025 | 12:24 CAT
3-minute read

Image: eNCA

Suspended ANC member and former member of Parliament Jacob “Boy” Mamabolo announced his resignation from the African National Congress, ending a political relationship that spanned nearly thirty years.

In his resignation letter addressed to Limpopo ANC provincial secretary Reuben Madadzhe, Mamabolo lamented that he could “no longer endure the abuse” he alleges was inflicted upon him by internal party forces. He cited “internal sabotage, political marginalisation, and deliberate efforts to discredit him” as reasons behind his decision.

During a Radio Islam interview, the host explored whether Mamabolo’s resignation was merely a formality, considering he had been suspended, removed as an MP, and had already tried forming his own party. Mamabolo, with a reflective tone, delivered his response.

“In any abusive relationship, whether in a marriage or so on, the abused person will be patient… maybe for a decade, or for two decades, or almost 30 years like myself now. I’ve been a member for 29 years, but I just don’t know now that this is too much now.”

Mamabolo’s fraught relationship with the ANC has several flashpoints:

• Legal challenges and removal from Parliament: He was controversially dropped from the ANC’s parliamentary candidate list ahead of the 2024 elections—a move he challenged in court, accusing internal factions of manipulating the list.
• Social media controversy and suspension: In April 2025, the ANC in Limpopo placed him under temporary suspension following a series of social media posts deemed injurious to party members, including inflammatory remarks directed at Onnica Moloi and others. The party initiated disciplinary proceedings citing reputational harm.
• Court-ordered limits on social media: In July 2025, a Polokwane high court mandated the deactivation of his “Boy Mamabolo Fans (Bua Kolobe)” Facebook account. The order barred him from posting defamatory content about Polokwane mayor John Mpe and his family—and even prohibited indirect harassment or threats via various platforms.
• Formation of a new political party blocked: Mamabolo attempted to register a new party, “Mandela for President,” but the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) rejected the application. The reasons included non-compliance with signature thresholds, misrepresentation in founding documents, and its name and branding potentially misleading voters into believing there was an ANC or Nelson Mandela affiliation.

In his interview, Mamabolo pushed back against the narrative that the ANC could dismiss his departure. He underscored his grassroots contributions and political heft.

“No, no, the ANC relied on us too much… for Limpopo to remain one of the biggest provinces of the ANC, there are some of our efforts.”

By emphasising his role in reinforcing ANC’s standing in Limpopo—alongside Eastern Cape—he asserted: “We are not… liabilities.”

Turning to broader dynamics within the ANC, Mamabolo voiced concerns about factionalism in Limpopo.

“The ANC in Limpopo is dying an initial death. It’s in the ICU, it’s on the life support… The ANC in Limpopo is divided into two groups, two ethnic groups. There’s a group of the Sepedi-s­peaking people who don’t want the Premier of Limpopo because she’s a Venda-speaking person.”

He suggested that internal faction-ridden politics were pushing key figures like Limpopo ANC chair Stan Matapata to step aside to avoid embarrassment at provincial conferences.

Despite the setback over the “Mandela for President” name, Mamabolo remains undeterred. According to both his resignation letter and public statements, he plans to register a new party under a different name, signalling he is moving forward with a revised initiative. The ANC, meanwhile, continues to wrestle with internal fractures, leadership battles, and waning public trust ahead of upcoming elective conferences.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.