The ANC in Limpopo has suspended party member and whistleblower, Thapelo Molepo after leaked explosive documents alleging R700 million in irregular tenders at Polokwane Municipality allegedly involving Mayor John Mpe. Image: Google
By [Daily South African Pulse], August 2025
The Molepo Suspension — A Flashpoint Moment
On a crisp winter morning in August 2025, the African National Congress (ANC) in Limpopo announced the suspension of one of its rising stars — Thapelo Molepo, Chairperson of the provincial Youth League. The official reason: his name had been linked to an ongoing investigation into a R700 million fraud scandal involving municipal funds.
The decision, made public just months before the ANC begins gearing up for the 2026 local government elections, sent shockwaves through Limpopo’s political corridors. For some, it was a long-overdue act of accountability. For others, it was another example of the ANC’s selective disciplinary measures, where internal battles often determine who falls and who survives.
While Molepo insists he is innocent and has not been formally charged, the suspension has raised uncomfortable questions about the intersection of youth politics, patronage networks, and municipal governance in one of South Africa’s most politically contested provinces.
The Rise of Thapelo Molepo: From Youth Activist to Power Broker
Thapelo Molepo, now in his early 30s, has long been considered one of the “Young Lions” within the ANC’s Limpopo structures. Born in the rural outskirts of Polokwane, he first emerged as a vocal student leader at the University of Limpopo, where he aligned himself with the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) — a coalition of ANC-aligned student movements.
By 2019, Molepo had risen through the ranks, positioning himself as a loyal supporter of Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha while simultaneously cultivating his own networks in the Polokwane Municipality, the economic hub of the province.
Colleagues describe him as charismatic, ambitious, and deeply connected — a young politician who knew how to navigate both the grassroots structures of the ANC Youth League and the elite corridors of tender politics.
His election as Chairperson of the ANC Youth League in Limpopo in 2022 was seen as a generational shift, ushering in leaders born after apartheid who were determined to claim their share of political influence.
“Thapelo was never just a youth leader — he was a power broker in the making. His name carried weight in Polokwane tenders, in branch disputes, and in succession debates,” says a senior ANC member, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The ANC in Limpopo: A History of Power, Patronage, and Scandal
Limpopo has long been a political paradox in South Africa: a province rich in resources, strategically placed between Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Mozambique, yet consistently plagued by allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and patronage-driven politics.
The ANC has dominated Limpopo since 1994, but almost every decade has brought its own scandal:
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The 2011 Provincial Government Takeover: After the province plunged into financial crisis, with debts exceeding R2 billion, the National Treasury intervened, effectively placing Limpopo under administration (Mail & Guardian).
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The VBS Mutual Bank Scandal (2018): More than R1.9 billion was looted from the bank, with several Limpopo municipalities implicated. Senior ANC officials were accused of benefiting, leading to resignations and criminal charges (News24).
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Tendergate Controversies: From Polokwane Municipality to provincial health contracts, Limpopo has repeatedly been flagged by the Auditor-General for irregular expenditure.
Against this backdrop, Molepo’s suspension is not just about one man — it is a continuation of a systemic pattern where youth leaders, municipal officials, and political elites often become entangled in tender-driven patronage networks.
The R700 Million Fraud Allegations: Origins and Unanswered Questions
At the heart of the scandal is a R700 million tender project linked to infrastructure development in Limpopo municipalities. Sources within the Hawks, South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, confirm that the probe involves allegations of inflated contracts, shell companies, and possible kickbacks to political figures.
While Molepo has not been formally charged, investigative leaks suggest that some companies allegedly linked to him — either through proxies or close associates — benefited from municipal tenders worth hundreds of millions.
The key allegations include:
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Over-invoicing of Infrastructure Projects: Road construction and water reticulation contracts allegedly billed at double their actual cost.
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Use of Front Companies: Businesses with little to no track record winning tenders, later traced to political figures.
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Flow of Funds to Political Campaigns: Suggestions that part of the diverted funds were used to bankroll ANC Youth League conferences and branch lobbying.
“The real question is not whether Molepo personally stole money, but whether his political network benefited from a system of municipal capture,” says political analyst Ralph Mathekga (TimesLIVE).
The investigation, currently in its early stages, could take months — or even years — to finalize. For now, Molepo’s suspension reflects the ANC’s attempt to appear proactive in the face of mounting public pressure.
Inside the Disciplinary Process: How the ANC Handles Internal Scandals
The ANC’s internal disciplinary process has often been criticized as opaque, factional, and politically motivated.
In Molepo’s case, the Limpopo ANC’s Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) acted swiftly, citing the party’s step-aside rule — a policy that requires members facing serious allegations to vacate their positions until cleared.
However, critics argue that the rule is inconsistently applied:
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Ace Magashule, the former ANC Secretary-General, was forced to step aside after being charged in the Free State asbestos scandal.
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Zandile Gumede, despite facing corruption charges, remains influential within KwaZulu-Natal ANC structures.
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In Limpopo itself, several officials implicated in the VBS scandal never formally stepped aside, raising concerns about double standards.
Molepo, in a press statement, said he would “respect the process but fight to clear my name”.
Factional Politics: Molepo, John Mpe, and the Struggle for Polokwane
Behind the legal and ethical questions lies a political battlefield.
Molepo’s suspension comes at a time when John Mpe, the Executive Mayor of Polokwane, is fighting for his own political survival. Mpe, a seasoned ANC politician, has faced criticism over service delivery failures and allegations of maladministration in the capital city.
Analysts suggest that Molepo’s fall may benefit Mpe’s faction, consolidating his control over Polokwane’s ANC branches ahead of the 2026 elections.
At the same time, national leaders within the ANC — including President Cyril Ramaphosa’s allies — are closely watching Limpopo, recognizing that the province’s delegate numbers can influence ANC National Conference outcomes.
This means Molepo’s suspension is not just about governance — it is about power plays that extend all the way to Luthuli House in Johannesburg.
Youth Leagues and Tender Politics: The Pipeline of Power
For decades, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has been a breeding ground for future political leaders — but also a space where tender politics and patronage networks take root early.
From Julius Malema (expelled in 2012 and now leading the Economic Freedom Fighters) to Collen Maine (embroiled in Gupta-linked controversies), Youth League leaders often become symbols of both radicalism and scandal.
Molepo’s case fits this pattern. His leadership of the Youth League was not just about mobilizing young people — it was about positioning himself as a kingmaker in municipal and provincial politics.
This raises a critical governance question: are Youth League structures training grounds for future leaders — or incubators for future scandals?
Comparisons: From VBS to Tendergate — Limpopo’s Corruption Legacy
The R700 million probe cannot be separated from Limpopo’s broader history of financial scandals:
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The VBS Bank Collapse remains one of the largest corporate scandals in post-apartheid South Africa, devastating thousands of depositors.
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The Polokwane Municipality has repeatedly been flagged for irregular expenditure by the Auditor-General.
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The healthcare system in Limpopo, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, faced allegations of inflated PPE contracts — echoing national scandals.
Each scandal erodes public trust while reinforcing the perception that Limpopo’s politics are dominated by corruption syndicates masquerading as governance structures.
Public Trust and Governance: What This Means for Ordinary South Africans
For ordinary residents of Limpopo, the Molepo saga is not about factional politics — it is about the daily realities of poor service delivery:
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Water shortages in rural areas.
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Roads riddled with potholes despite multi-million rand contracts.
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Youth unemployment hovering above 60% in some municipalities.
When funds are allegedly siphoned off into patronage networks, communities bear the brunt.
“The tragedy is that scandals like this are not abstract — they translate into children walking 5km for water and young people losing hope,” says activist Tinyiko Baloyi, a community organizer in Mopani.
Expert Commentary: Analysts Weigh In
Political experts offer mixed views on Molepo’s suspension:
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Susan Booysen (political analyst): “The ANC is trying to enforce accountability, but as always, factionalism influences who gets targeted.”
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Steven Friedman (academic): “The danger is that the Youth League becomes nothing more than a tender committee — that’s the real crisis here.”
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Institute for Security Studies (ISS): In a recent report, the ISS warned that corruption scandals in Limpopo could fuel disillusionment among young voters, potentially benefiting opposition parties like the EFF and ActionSA (ISS Africa).
Possible Outcomes: Suspension, Expulsion, or Political Reinvention
What happens next for Molepo? Three scenarios are possible:
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Clearance and Return: If the Hawks fail to directly implicate him, Molepo could return to politics stronger — framing himself as a victim of factional purges.
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Permanent Fall: If charges are laid, Molepo could face permanent expulsion, joining the long list of Youth League leaders who fell from grace.
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Reinvention Outside the ANC: Like Malema before him, Molepo could eventually reinvent himself in another political home if he feels unfairly sidelined.
Conclusion: Molepo’s Suspension in the Shadow of 2026 Elections
As South Africa inches toward the 2026 elections, the Molepo scandal highlights both the fragility and resilience of the ANC in Limpopo.
Fragile, because every new scandal deepens public distrust in a party already struggling to maintain majority support.
Resilient, because despite decades of corruption allegations, the ANC in Limpopo continues to dominate electoral outcomes.
Whether Molepo survives politically will depend not only on the outcome of the fraud investigation but also on how effectively the ANC can balance accountability with its factional battles.
For now, the suspension is both a warning shot and a test case — a reminder that in South African politics, power and scandal are often two sides of the same coin.
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