The South African National Civics Organisation (SANCO) in North West has endorsed Premier Lazarus Mokgosi as the ANC’s next provincial chairperson. Mokgosi, who currently serves as the deputy chairperson, was appointed premier following last year’s national and provincial elections.
The ANC in the province is expected to hold its conference next year, during which a new leadership will be elected. The term of the current Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) expires next year.
Lobbying and succession discussions are already underway within the ANC in the province as the party prepares for the upcoming provincial conference.
SANCO, which has disengaged from all ANC activities in the province, has thrown its weight behind Mokgosi to take over from Nono Maloyi as the chairperson.
“When SANCO call you, you respected the call. Premier continues to respect our communities. Continue to make sure when there is a problem you go there and address those problems. We have seen you premier, we have seen you as SANCO and we feel at some point when the ANC is sober, because the ANC in this province is drunk now when its sober, they give you the responsibility to lead this province as the chairperson,” says SANCO NW Chairperson Tshepo Khoza.
The organisation has promised to campaign for Mokgosi to be elected the chairperson of the ANC in the province next year.
“Comrades that are here, they are coming from different ANC branches. We are going to speak to them that we go to the provincial conference, we are going to vote for comrade Lazzy as the provincial chair of the ANC in the province,” Khoza added.
Meanwhile, a political analyst says SANCO’s pronouncement signals that they want to consolidate their position within the ANC-led alliance in the province.
“Clearly, we can see that the rally for the 2026 conference is already underway, and so is the contestation. This is part of their engagement to express the need for their voices to be heard. They are advocating for the current premier to ascend as chairperson, highlighting their desire for recognition and support. It reflects their interest in understanding how much power they still hold and whether the ANC values its relationship with SANCO,” says political analyst Thabang Motswaledi.
SANCO is the first organization in the North West to publicly announce its preferred candidate.
