The concerns, raised informally by regional structures, speak to a broader and recurring tension within the governing party between its national office bearers and provincial or regional leadership ahead of any leadership contest.
Party insiders describe a pattern familiar from previous succession battles: regional conferences becoming proxy battlegrounds for factional positioning long before any formal nomination process begins.
The party's national leadership has, in public statements, repeatedly urged members to focus on party unity and service delivery rather than premature leadership speculation — guidance that regional structures on the ground do not always heed.
Whether these regional tensions translate into an organised challenge at a national level remains to be seen, and will likely depend on how the party's internal processes unfold over the coming months.
Insight Factor will continue monitoring ANC regional structures for further developments as conference season approaches.
