There is increasing dissatisfaction among African National Congress members at grassroots level about the continuing presence of the Interim Leadership Core in the Northern Province, which is not a democratically elected body.

The body was appointed to manage the ANC's affairs in the province, after the disbanding of the party's provincial executive last year. A large number of ANC branches have complained that the Leadership Core was imposed on the province by the party's national hierarchy, and they believe the time has now come for a properly elected executive to be put in place once again.

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance leader Michael Holford has added his voice to the chorus of complaints about what is perceived to be a "leadership vacuum" in the province. He says the ruling party is displaying "a lack of political will and poor leadership", by failing to address the situation decisively.

"Ramatlhodi remains Premier, despite the fact that the national office of the ANC removed him, together with his executive some eight months ago. Faction fighting continues unabated, and allegations of mismanagement surface all the time. This poor leadership style and the dissension within ANC ranks clearly demonstrate its inability to handle governance in the Northern Province", Holford said on Monday.

He claimed "jobs for pals" was still rampant, pointing out that the ANC had ignored democratic procedures by appointing its own Municipal Manager for the Lepele-Nkumpi Council, despite a total walk-out by all opposition members. Holford added that the "antics" of the Makhado Municipality had merely served to confirm the dire shortage of leadership under ANC rule.

"So long as no clear decisions are forthcoming from the ANC, the province will continue to slide downhill", he contended.

Other opposition leaders have pointed out that the ANC has not held a provincial congress for 15 months, and does not seem to have any plans to convene one.

In response to an inquiry, ANC provincial spokesperson Ian Madikoto said in Pietersburg that the party was currently engaged in a province-wide restructuring process. He was not able to give any indication of a possible congress date.