THE FUSE

By Celani Sikhakhane

The AbaThembu Kingdom says it won’t support anyone linked to extortion leading their community, after ANC ward 11 candidate Nosiphiwo Luphindo’s nomination sparked outrage.

Luphindo has been accused of working with slain Mthatha West extortion figure Sakhumzi Mareke, who was shot dead by police in 2024.

The AbaThembu Kingdom in the Eastern Cape says it will not support anyone linked to extortion leading their community, after an outcry from Mthatha West residents over the ANC’s nomination of Nosiphiwo Luphindo as its candidate for ward 11.

The Monarch made the statement to Scrolla.Africa on Tuesday.

Luphindo has been accused of working with the late Sakhumzi Dalinzolo Mareke, an alleged extortion kingpin from Mthatha West, who was shot dead by police during a gun battle in Mthatha in September 2024.

At the time, Luphindo and Mareke were accused of disrupting a local school, demanding money over the installation of a cellphone network tower on the school premises. They were also accused of collecting protection fees from community members and pensioners. This week, residents said the ANC should not nominate Luphindo, fearing it could bring back the extortion crisis that previously forced local schools to close.

In an earlier interview, Luphindo told the SABC that the school was supposed to sign the tower agreement in consultation with community members.

AbaThembu spokesperson Siphelele Mtirara told Scrolla.Africa the Kingdom would oppose anyone implicated in extortion being put forward to lead the community.

“We do understand that the ANC’s internal processes have nothing to do with the Kingdom, but if it is true that the lady in question was indeed part of the Mareke cabal of extortionists, we won’t allow that person to lead our community,” Mtirara said.

ANC leadership in the Eastern Cape and the OR Tambo Region could not be reached for comment. Luphindo was also not reached for comment.

The extortion crisis previously led to a serious feud between AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo and Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, after the King publicly accused Mabuyane of being a beneficiary of Mareke’s extortion activities. Mabuyane rejected the claim and demanded the King provide evidence to support it. Both the King and Mabuyane, as well as the King and Mareke’s family, have since reconciled, the family met with the King in March 2025 to apologise.

Pictured above: Nosiphiwo Luphindo, ANC candidate for ward 11 in Mthatha West, who has been linked to the late extortion figure Sakhumzi Mareke.

Image source: Screenshot