CAPE TOWN, Sunday 25 October 2026 — African National Congress (ANC) Dullah Omar regional chairperson Ndithini Tyhido has resigned as a City of Cape Town councillor and opposition leader, leaving the party’s municipal caucus leadership position vacant less than two weeks before the 4 November local government elections.
The ANC confirmed that Tyhido resigned as a proportional representation councillor with effect from Thursday, 22 October, to concentrate on the party’s election campaign.
His departure follows a dispute concerning disciplinary proceedings over alleged non-attendance at municipal meetings.
Tyhido denies that the proceedings influenced his decision.
ANC confirms resignation
The ANC’s Dullah Omar Region confirmed that Tyhido had submitted his resignation in writing under section 27(1)(a) of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act.
The party said the resignation took immediate effect on 22 October.
Tyhido consequently relinquished his position as the ANC’s leader in the City of Cape Town council.
However, the party emphasised that he had not resigned as regional chairperson or terminated his ANC membership.
The regional leadership said Tyhido would continue playing a prominent role in the party’s municipal election campaign.
It described his decision as an opportunity to devote more time to campaigning during the final days before voting.
Disciplinary proceedings disputed
Tyhido’s resignation comes amid a disciplinary process concerning his alleged failure to attend municipal meetings.
Eyewitness News reported on Saturday that the DA-led council had been pursuing disciplinary action against him.
Tyhido disputed the basis of the proceedings.
He said he had not been formally charged with failing to attend council or council committee meetings.
According to Tyhido, the matter concerned his attendance at virtual subcouncil meetings, which he argued were governed by different procedural rules.
He accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of using the process to embarrass an ANC leader.
Those allegations represent Tyhido’s position and have not been independently established.
Tyhido denies disciplinary process prompted departure
Tyhido maintained that his resignation was unrelated to the disciplinary proceedings.
He said he had decided to concentrate on the ANC’s election campaign rather than continue contesting the municipal process.
The ANC’s regional statement similarly attributed his departure to campaign responsibilities.
Neither the ANC nor the municipality has publicly established that the disciplinary proceedings resulted in a finding of misconduct.
The available reporting also does not confirm whether the disciplinary process was formally terminated following his resignation.
Appointed to lead ANC caucus in 2025
Tyhido became the ANC’s Cape Town caucus leader in April 2025.
His appointment followed the departure of former caucus leader Banele Majingo, who resigned from the ANC and joined the DA.
At the time, the ANC described Tyhido’s deployment as an effort to strengthen its municipal opposition and improve its preparations for the 2026 elections.
Tyhido was already serving as chairperson of the party’s Dullah Omar Region.
His political background includes leadership involvement in the Khayelitsha Development Forum.
The ANC tasked him with focusing on housing, employment, municipal services and other challenges affecting communities across Cape Town.
His departure ends that council leadership assignment before the conclusion of the current municipal term.
Resignation creates caucus leadership vacancy
The resignation has consequences for the ANC’s representation in the outgoing Cape Town council.
Tyhido occupied a proportional representation seat and served as the party’s caucus leader.
His departure creates a vacancy that must be addressed through the applicable municipal and electoral procedures.
The ANC must also determine who will lead its remaining councillors during the final period before the elections.
No replacement caucus leader was independently confirmed in the reporting reviewed.
The vacancy does not automatically result in a ward by-election because Tyhido held a proportional representation seat.
ANC preparing for difficult Cape Town contest
The resignation comes as the ANC attempts to improve its electoral performance in Cape Town.
The DA has governed the municipality since 2006 and is seeking another term under incumbent mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
The ANC received approximately 18.6% of the vote in the 2021 municipal elections.
Its campaign is focused on increasing representation and challenging the DA’s management of housing, infrastructure and municipal services.
Tyhido has been among the senior ANC figures involved in the party’s preparations for the mayoral contest.
However, his resignation from the outgoing council does not establish a change to the ANC’s certified candidate lists or final mayoral arrangements.
Regional leadership remains unchanged
The ANC has indicated that Tyhido will continue serving as regional chairperson.
The party has also urged him to use his experience to mobilise voters before the election.
The immediate organisational questions concern the appointment of a replacement caucus leader and the handling of his vacant proportional representation seat.
The longer-term implications will depend on the election results and the ANC’s decisions about its next municipal leadership team.
For now, Tyhido remains a senior ANC regional leader despite leaving the Cape Town council.
