By Mathipa Phishego
(Inside Out News) ActionSA has withdrawn Thapelo Molepo as its mayoral candidate for the City of Polokwane ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections, in a move that has raised questions over the circumstances surrounding his removal.
Molepo was unveiled as ActionSA’s Polokwane mayoral candidate in May 2026 after joining the party following his departure from the ANC. At the time, ActionSA positioned him among its key candidates in Limpopo as the party prepared to contest municipalities in the province. The decision to withdraw his candidacy appears to have come abruptly.
Molepo allegedly learned of decision through social media
A screenshot seen by Inside Out News shows a message purportedly sent by ActionSA Limpopo provincial chairperson Victor Mothemela to Molepo. In the message, Mothemela tells Molepo that the party’s Convention Council had decided to withdraw him as the mayoral candidate for Polokwane with immediate effect.
The message also indicated that an official statement would be released at a later stage. What makes the development particularly significant is the manner in which Molepo reportedly became aware of the decision.
According to the message, Mothemela refers to a Facebook post containing information about the decision and says he was unaware of where the information had originated. The message further states that the party had held a Provincial Executive Committee meeting the previous day and suggests that information from that meeting may have been leaked.
Molepo was subsequently removed from the WhatsApp group, with the message stating that he would be withdrawn from the group officially. The screenshot therefore presents a different picture from the later public explanation that the decision was reached in consultation with Molepo.
ActionSA cites strategic realignment
ActionSA has since confirmed Molepo’s withdrawal and described the move as part of a strategic realignment ahead of the Local Government Elections. The party said the decision followed internal engagements and was aimed at strengthening its organisational focus and positioning itself for the upcoming electoral contest in Polokwane.
ActionSA Limpopo spokesperson Tshepo Magoma said Polokwane remains strategically important to the party and that the changes were intended to maximise the capabilities of its members and strengthen the campaign. The party also thanked Molepo for his contribution to its campaign and community engagements.
This has left questions about what prompted the sudden change, particularly given that Molepo had been publicly presented as the party’s candidate only a few months earlier.
Molepo’s political rise and what happens next
Molepo’s political profile grew significantly during his time in the ANC, particularly after he became associated with allegations surrounding a reported R700 million tender corruption scandal at Polokwane Municipality. He later became a critic of the municipality’s leadership and eventually left the ANC before joining ActionSA. His candidacy positioned him as one of the party’s prominent figures in its campaign to challenge established political parties in Polokwane.
His removal now leaves ActionSA with the task of determining its next mayoral candidate for one of Limpopo’s most politically significant municipalities. The development could also test the party’s campaign strategy in Polokwane, particularly because Molepo had already been introduced to voters and had participated in campaign activities.
Molepo’s immediate political future remains uncertain.
The controversy surrounding his removal is likely to fuel further questions about internal decision-making within ActionSA Limpopo, particularly the contrast between the reported manner in which Molepo was informed and the party’s subsequent public characterisation of the decision. As the Local Government Elections approach, attention will now turn to who ActionSA selects to replace Molepo and whether the party can maintain campaign momentum in Polokwane.
Inside Out News will continue to follow developments surrounding ActionSA, Molepo and the party’s mayoral candidate selection in Polokwane.