The campaign trail of ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula this week took him to the Bapedi Nation in Limpopo as the ANC and other parties look for endorsement of traditional leaders ahead of the critical local government election.
Mbalula and other ANC leaders have been on a charm offensive with royal houses and churches since the party launched its manifesto in August as it attempts to drum up its traditional support to save the limping party.
Mbalula, national chair Gwede Mantashe and President Cyril Ramaphosa have been criss-crossing the country meeting with traditional and church leaders. Mantashe has centred most of his campaign in the Eastern Cape while Ramaphosa has mostly been campaigning in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
Mbalula has placed his focus squarely on Limpopo and this week received a glowing welcome by the Her Majesty Queen Leganabatho II Thulare of the Bapedi Nation. The Bapedi Nation has authority over 5-million people, about 10% of the country’s population.
This comes as the ANC is paying more attention to traditional leadership in this election to claw back lost support in the various municipalities.
In its 2026 local government elections manifesto, the ANC directs all its mayors where it governs to convene a mayor and traditional authority forums within 100 days after elections that will sign a compact to convene imbizos twice a year with communities.
During his courtesy visit this week, Mbalula, who was accompanied by ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji and provincial secretary Reuben Madadzhe, gifted the queen five live cows as he had promised during her birthday celebration just over a month ago.
Mbalula went on a charm offensive telling Queen Thulare that he considered the Bapedi royal house as the home of the ANC, which since its inception in 1912 has always been an organisation of royal families.
“We thank you for welcoming us to deliver gifts from the ANC. I am here as a Jola [Mbalula clan name] but I am leaving as a Hlabirwa [clan name linked to Bapedi royalty],” said Mbalula to loud cheers and ululations.
“I come from royalty myself, our royal house is the Amampondomise. In that royal household it is us the Jolas that are representing the Amampondomise. I am not walking around as a normal person, I come from royalty.”
Mbalula said the ANC is an organisation of God and ancestors, emphasising that this explained the showers that blessed his visit.
Queen Thulare said she was excited to receive a courtesy visit from a high-ranking leader of the ANC.
“Have you ever thought that one day we would receive here at home a secretary-general? Have you ever witnessed that? Today we are overjoyed,” she said.
“You know God does miracles because the person who is here is not just a normal person and God blessed us with the rain that has been falling since yesterday and we wondered if he will be able to arrive and he did.”
Queen Thulare gifted Mbalula with the traditional regalia of leopard skin accorded to a warrior in recognition of honour, courage and distinguished service.
According to Bapedi Nation Prince Mampuru Sekwati, the regalia bestowed is traditionally worn by the senior regiments of the Bapedi people symbolising valour, dignity and standing within the nation.
“Accompanying the regalia is a ceremonial staff adorned with genuine leopard skin, a revered symbol of royalty, authority and noble distinction within Bapedi tradition. Together these symbols represent the honour of the warrior and the esteem in which the recipient is held,” said Prince Sekwati.
Prince Sekwati said the royal family was happy that Mbalula honoured his promise to present cattle to her as a birthday gift.
This, he said, was particularly important in maintaining a relationship with traditional leaders in the country.
“Keeping his word demonstrates genuine respect for traditional leadership. The ANC and traditional leaders share a long history and we are encouraged to see that relationship being strengthened. Political parties that respect and engage traditional and religious leaders will earn the confidence of the communities we serve,” said Prince Sekwati.
Mbalula’s visit is also seen as a way for the ANC to regain the trust of the Zulu Nation King Misuzulu Zulu ka Zwelithini, who enjoys close ties with the Bapedi Nation.
The two royal houses are working towards signing a memorandum of understanding that covers, among others, mineral resources in the areas covered by both Zulu and Bapedi nations as well as their land.
In the draft MOU, which the Sunday Times has seen, the two royal households have agreed that they will not compromise their position on how the minerals and the land in their areas are controlled.
The Zulu Kingdom is rich in gold while the Bapedi Kingdom is rich in chrome and platinum and both control vast amounts of land.
According to the MOU, to be signed later this month, the two kingdoms are expected to agree on tightening the control of their minerals and land, ensuring black people play a central role in mining activities as well as taking a non-negotiable stance on beneficiation.
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