Jongizizwe Dlabathi quits ANC Ekurhuleni post for the second time

Jongizizwe Dlabathi has resigned as the African National Congress (ANC) Ekurhuleni regional secretary for the second time this year, choosing to remain in municipal government rather than serve as a full-time party official.

The resignation was confirmed in a letter dated 2 September 2026 from ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula to the Ekurhuleni regional leadership.

JONGIZIZWE DLABATHI RESIGNS AS ANC EKURHULENI SECRETARY 

Dlabathi had been required to choose between remaining as a full-time regional secretary or giving up the party position in line with an ANC directive that all regional secretaries must serve on a full-time basis.

Mbalula said the directive, communicated on 29 May, required regional secretaries holding employment elsewhere to either resign from that employment or relinquish their party positions within 30 days.

Dlabathi opted to give up his position as regional secretary and remain in municipal government.

“Having applied my mind on the options to either remain full-time as a regional secretary or other employment, I thus wish to inform the secretary-general that I have opted to recuse myself from the full-time responsibility of regional secretary, thus opting to remain within my municipal responsibility,” Dlabathi wrote.

The ANC has accepted his resignation.

SECOND RESIGNATION IN A FEW MONTHS 

Jongizizwe Dlabathi’s latest resignation comes months after he first stepped down from both his position as ANC Ekurhuleni regional secretary and as the City of Ekurhuleni‘s finance MMC in February.

At the time, his resignation came amid political tensions within the ANC and the municipality. Dlabathi had reportedly been at odds with Ekurhuleni Mayor and ANC regional chairperson Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.

The ANC subsequently rejected the resignation and instructed Dlabathi to return to his positions. He resumed his duties as regional secretary and finance MMC in March.

His latest resignation is different from the first.

This time, Dlabathi is relinquishing his ANC regional secretary position only, while choosing to remain focused on his municipal responsibilities.

Dlabathi said his decision was consistent with the position he took during the ANC’s mayoral candidate interview process, where he indicated that he wanted to focus on municipal governance.

PARTY TO APPOINT ACTING SECRETARY 

Following his resignation, the ANC has instructed the Ekurhuleni Regional Executive Committee (REC) to convene within seven days to formally process the resignation and determine the transitional arrangements.

The regional leadership must also designate an acting regional secretary from among REC members.

The acting secretary will serve until the next ANC Ekurhuleni regional conference.

Jongizizwe Dlabathi has also been instructed to hand over all regional materials, records, correspondence and organisational property in his custody to the acting regional secretary within seven days.

The ANC said it would publicly announce the transitional arrangements to ensure transparency and maintain confidence in its governance.

The party also instructed the regional executive, zones and branches to ensure the continuity of its election campaign ahead of the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections.

Dlabathi was elected ANC Ekurhuleni regional secretary in August 2025, alongside Xhakaza, who was elected regional chairperson. At the time, Dlabathi said he intended to retain his position as the city’s finance MMC while serving as regional secretary.

His latest decision brings that dual role to an end, with Dlabathi opting to remain in municipal government.