Richard Dyantyi, the parliament’s former chairperson of the Section 194 inquiry into then-public protector advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office, has received a reprieve in his political career.
Dyantyi has bounced back to become the fundraiser of the ANC Western Cape provincial task team (PTT) after ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula on Wednesday announced the disbandment of the provincial executive committee.
The PTT will be convened by veteran politician and former SA ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool. Thandi Makasi has been chosen as the coordinator.
Defeat in provincial conference
The political shake-up comes as a much-needed boost to Dyantyi, whose career had taken a serious nosedive following the Mkhwebane inquiry fame.
After the inquiry laid the foundation for Mkhwebane’s impeachment as public protector, Dyantyi lost in the ANC provincial conference in that province and subsequently failed to become a member of parliament in last year’s national elections.
He now returns as the man on whom the financial hopes of the temporary structure will rest in a province where the ANC does not have state power and does not control who gets tenders.
Rasool, a senior cadre and the last ANC premier in the Western Cape, will engage in political activities after his abrupt end of deployment in Washington, where he was declared persona non grata by US President Donald Trump for insulting him.
The ANC national executive committee (NEC) had to step in and impose a PTT in the Western Cape, making it the third province to do so after the poor results of the previous year’s elections.
PTT also imposed on KZN and Gauteng
When the dreaded axe fell on the provincial executive committees (PEC) of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng early this year, the same strategy as the Western Cape was used, keeping the old PEC members with fresh blood while giving trusted senior cadres leadership positions.
The ANC in the Western Cape will now go into next year’s local government elections with renewed vigour, empowered by the 84-member PTT, almost the size of the NEC.
“The ANC remains unwavering in its commitment to the renewal, unity, and organisational strengthening of the movement across all provinces,” said the ANC in a statement.
“In this context, the NEC has taken a strategic decision to reconfigure the Western Cape provincial structures, ensuring that the ANC remains an effective vehicle for transformation, development, and people-centred governance.
“This intervention comes at a time when the overall national electoral performance was impacted by a decline in key provinces, including the Western Cape, which saw a 9% drop in results.
“This makes both Gauteng and the Western Cape central to the ANC’s broader strategy of renewal, rebuilding, and recovery.”
2026 elections a central focus
The statement reads further: “Preparations for the 2026 local government elections will be a central focus, with the goal of reclaiming lost ground and positioning the ANC at the centre of governance in the province.
“To achieve this, the NEC has resolved to establish a PTT that will guide the rebuilding process, stabilise organisational structures, and lead preparations for future electoral contests.
“The leadership collective being put in place integrates members of the outgoing PEC with seasoned leaders, cadres, and veterans, combining experience with renewed energy to strengthen unity, discipline, and community connection.”
Other prominent politicians who were selected include former deputy minister Mcebisi Skwatsha, former Hawks boss Anwar Dramat, MP Cameron Dugmore, former National Youth Development Agency chairpersons Asanda Luwaca and Sifiso Mtsweni, and former National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa deputy general secretary Karl Cloete.
