A September 2025 Facebook post has turned into a political headache for ANC Free State deputy chairperson Ketso Makume, with questions being raised over whether his association with figures around the Service Movement for Metsimaholo (SMM) extended to a political project now contesting elections against his party.
The September 28 post from an account bearing Makume’s name shows four people and carries the caption: “The Mouthpiece, The Brain, The Face, and The Connector. You’ve got to love Cde Bafana.”
Former ANC organiser Bafana Thwane is second from the left in the photograph, SMM co-founder Selloane Motjeane third and Makume fourth. The woman on the far left could not be identified.
If the descriptions follow the order of the people in the photograph, Thwane would be “The Brain”, Motjeane “The Face” and Makume “The Connector”. The post does not expressly state that the descriptions correspond with the people from left to right or that they refer to the SMM.
But questions have been raised because Motjeane subsequently emerged as an SMM co-founder, while Thwane is now associated with the movement.
The timing has also attracted attention. The post appeared in September 2025, shortly before the SMM’s emergence as a political formation on October 9.
A second image has added to the questions. An SMM social-media post from December 2025 shows Makume standing and addressing people at a meeting.
Thwane confirmed that he had been an ANC member in 2025 and left the party this year. “I was a member of the ANC last year, up until I left the ANC this year,” he told Sunday World.
He also confirmed his involvement in ANC structures during the 2024 election campaign.
“I was in the PTT of the ANC. I was sitting with them every week in 2024, running elections, until I left the ANC,” he said.
Asked about his relationship with Makume, Thwane sought to play down suggestions that their association pointed to a political arrangement.
“Everybody knows him. Everybody knows me,” he said, adding that he knew Makume “as a leader of the ANC”.
When Sunday World raised the December SMM post showing Makume addressing what looked like a meeting, Thwane asked to see the material.
“Send me where you said that thing. Send me the pictures of the meeting,” he said.
Thwane said he was prepared to account for his own relationship with the SMM. “You can ask me about SMM. I will respond to you,” he said.
He rejected suggestions that the movement was being directed from behind the scenes by a powerful political figure.
“SMM has no godfather,” Thwane said.
Makume referred Sunday World’s questions to ANC Free State provincial spokesperson Thabo Meeko.
Meeko rejected allegations that Makume was associated with any political formation outside the ANC.
“Toto has no association with any political party except the ANC business,” Meeko said.
He described the claims as politically motivated.
“These allegations are a fishing expedition to tarnish the image of both the ANC and its leaders for electoral opportunism.”
Meeko said political leaders were expected to engage people outside their own parties.
“ANC leaders seek to unite all behind the vision of a united, democratic, and prosperous society,” he said.
“In practice, we do this by persuading even opposition parties and anywhere and everywhere, including former ANC members. It’s the task of leadership.”
He also warned against what he called political intolerance during election periods.
“We call on our members and our community at large to reject political intolerance during election seasons.
“The right to franchise was hard won with blood and must be defended by all, including the media.”
Authoritative sources
- A September 2025 Facebook post from an account bearing ANC Free State deputy chair Ketso Makume's name showed four people with the caption mentioning "The Mouthpiece, The Brain, The Face, and The Connector," with former ANC organiser Bafana Thwane and SMM co-founder Selloane Motjeane among them.
- Bafana Thwane confirmed he was an ANC member in 2025 and involved in ANC election efforts during 2024 but left the party this year.
- Thwane downplayed suggestions that his relationship with Makume indicated a political arrangement and denied the SMM had a directing "godfather."
- ANC Free State spokesperson Thabo Meeko rejected allegations that Makume was associated with any political formation outside the ANC, calling the claims politically motivated.
- Meeko emphasized that ANC leaders engage people outside their party to promote unity and warned against political intolerance during election periods.
A
Former ANC organiser Bafana
If the descriptions follow the order of the people in the photograph,
But questions have been raised because Motjeane subsequently emerged as an SMM co-founder, while
A second image has added to the questions. An SMM social-media post from
He also confirmed his involvement in ANC structures during the 2024 election campaign.
“I was in the PTT of the ANC. I was sitting with them every week in 2024, running elections, until I left the ANC,” he said.
Asked about his relationship with Makume,
“Everybody knows him. Everybody knows me,” he said, adding that he knew Makume “as a leader of the ANC”.
When
“
He rejected suggestions that the movement was being directed from behind the scenes by a powerful political figure.
“SMM has no godfather,”
Makume referred
Meeko rejected allegations that Makume was associated with any political formation outside the ANC.
“Toto has no association with any political party except the ANC business,” Meeko said.
He described the claims as politically motivated.
“
Meeko said political leaders were expected to engage people outside their own parties.
“ANC leaders seek to unite all behind the vision of a united, democratic, and prosperous society,” he said.
“In practice, we do this by persuading even opposition parties and anywhere and everywhere, including former ANC members. It’s the task of leadership.”
He also warned against what he called political intolerance during election periods.
“We call on our members and our community at large to reject political intolerance during election seasons.
“
