On February 19, 2025, the ANC Women’s League Provincial Task Team (ANCWL PTT) in North West came out in strong defense of Norah Mahlangu, the suspended mayor of Tswaing Local Municipality. Mahlangu was placed on a month-long special leave by the ANC’s provincial leadership, pending an internal investigation.
Her suspension followed the circulation of a private, explicit video that went viral across social media platforms. In the footage, Mahlangu was captured in an intimate and compromising situation, leading the ANC to take disciplinary action, citing damage to the party’s reputation.
ANC Cites Ethical Misconduct in Suspension Notice
A letter from ANC Provincial Secretary Louis Diremelo to Mahlangu outlined the party’s reasons for the suspension. According to the letter, dated February 12, 2025, the ANC was made aware of Mahlangu’s video, which was deemed “unethical and immoral.” Diremelo stressed that such conduct did not align with the values, integrity, and principles expected from ANC representatives.
“Your indecent social media video has the potential to bring the organisation into disrepute. In fact, given its wide circulation, it already has,” Diremelo wrote in the letter.
To allow for a full investigation into how the video was leaked, Mahlangu was directed to take special leave and had until February 14, 2025, to acknowledge the terms of her suspension.
During this period, she was instructed not to report to work or visit municipal premises unless formally invited by the chief whip for council-related duties. If she needed to retrieve personal belongings from the office, she was required to make prior arrangements with the chief whip’s office.
The letter further emphasized that Mahlangu must cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and refrain from interfering with any potential witnesses. Diremelo assured that the findings and recommendations of the investigation would be shared with her once the process was complete.
ANCWL Rejects Suspension, Calls for Immediate Reinstatement
The ANCWL PTT strongly opposed the ANC’s decision, arguing that Mahlangu was being unfairly punished instead of protected.
Nombuyiselo Adoons, ANCWL PTT coordinator, criticized the suspension, stating:
“We are deeply concerned about the victimization of Mahlangu, who is at the center of a distressing situation after her private video was leaked without her consent by people she once trusted.”
Adoons condemned the unauthorized distribution of the video as a severe breach of privacy and dignity, emphasizing that Mahlangu was the victim of a crime. She further argued that the ANC’s decision to place Mahlangu on special leave not only weakened her position as mayor but also contributed to a culture where victims of privacy violations are penalized instead of supported.
“Mahlangu has already taken responsibility by publicly apologizing to the ANC and the community of Tswaing. She has demonstrated accountability, and for that reason, we demand the immediate withdrawal of her special leave,” Adoons stated.
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ANC Urged to Act Against Perpetrators, Not the Victim
Adoons further stressed that leaking private material without consent is a criminal offense and must be treated as such. She called on the ANC to shift its focus to identifying and taking action against those responsible for violating Mahlangu’s privacy, rather than subjecting her to administrative punishment.
“Victims should be supported, not further traumatized by unfair disciplinary measures,” Adoons added.
The ANCWL also called on the party to implement clear policies and protocols to protect members who fall victim to privacy breaches. Adoons emphasized the need for safeguards that ensure victims of such violations are not isolated, humiliated, or re-victimized.
“We stand in solidarity with Mahlangu and urge all relevant party structures to take strong action against the perpetrators. The ANC must establish concrete measures to uphold the dignity and rights of its members in cases of privacy invasion,” she concluded.
Final Thoughts
The suspension of Norah Mahlangu following the leak of her private video has sparked a heated debate, with the ANCWL demanding that the decision be overturned. While the ANC cites concerns over reputational damage, Mahlangu’s supporters argue that she is a victim of a privacy breach and should not be punished for a crime committed against her.
As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on whether the ANC will reconsider its stance and take a stronger position against privacy violations and digital exploitation, rather than placing blame on the victim.