The Eastern Cape High Court has dismissed applications for leave to appeal by the African National Congress (ANC) and its Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, dealing another legal blow to the party in its ongoing leadership dispute in the province.
The ruling upholds the court’s earlier judgment declaring the ANC National Executive Committee’s (NEC) decision to dissolve the Eastern Cape Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and appoint an interim Provincial Task Team (PTT) unlawful and unconstitutional.
In its latest judgment, the court found that the ANC Constitution does not permit the dissolution of a Provincial Executive Committee simply because its term has expired.
Instead, the court ruled that the Eastern Cape PEC, whose term ended in April 2026, must continue to lead the party until a duly constituted provincial conference elects new leadership.
The court further held that there was no legal basis for the appointment of a Provincial Task Team, meaning the interim structure established by the ANC’s national leadership remains invalid.
The judgment also means the ANC cannot proceed with a provincial conference under the authority of the dissolved PEC or the unlawful PTT.
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