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- Contralesa in Limpopo has been disbanded over apparent political manoeuvring in the organisation.
- The organisation says the chairperson, Kgoshi Letsiri Phaahla, attempted to hijack it for ActionSA.
- In turn, Phaahla accused the organisation of being "captured" by the ANC.
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa) in Limpopo has been disbanded after its leadership was accused of sowing division among members in the province.
Speaking to News24 on Monday, Contralesa spokesperson Juliet Lesedi said the relationship had broken down irrevocably between its chairperson, Kgoshi Letsiri Phaahla, and the membership.
"There was a loud cry from the membership. The problem started towards the national conference and Limpopo was not solid," Lesedi said.
She added:
"The meeting convened was disrupted. They went out and mobilised some members to come and swear at the meeting. It was a very ugly situation," Lesedi said.
However, Phaahla told News24 he was elected unopposed as chairperson of Contralesa in Limpopo in November last year, and the problems started in June when he joined ActionSA - a political party led by Herman Mashaba.
"I publicly announced that I have joined ActionSA in June this year, and that's when all the shenanigans went loose. Some members started writing letters to the national structure that they cannot be led by a dictator.
"The president then started coming here in Limpopo, holding meetings without my knowledge. It was later decided that the provincial structure be disbanded.
Phaahla said:
He accused Contralesa of being "captured" by the ANC because "anything that challenges the ANC is sidelined".
"The organisation is supposed to be apolitical, but it is captured [by the ANC]," he said.
But Lesedi dismissed Phaahla's claims, saying he has had problems with the ANC.
She said some members in KZN and the Eastern Cape were affiliated to different political parties.
"He went public, announcing he was moving to ActionSA together with Contralesa, which he was representing. That was wrong.
"They were taking decisions on behalf of membership without consulting. It was a dictatorship in Contralesa in the province," Lesedi said.
ActionSA provincial chairperson, Sello Lediga, believes the disbandment was "a political decision".
"We don't understand why traditional leaders are forced to join the ANC. The ANC does nothing for traditional leaders," Lediga said.
The ANC in the province dismissed as "untrue" assertions that it had "captured" Contralesa.
