The African National Congress (ANC) will not take any immediate action in regard to the troubled Sakhile township, national executive committee (NEC) member Fikile Mbalula said on Thursday.

Mbalula and fellow ANC NEC member Malusi Gigaba spoke to reporters after a five-hour meeting with officials from the province and Lekwa municipality, which incorporates Standerton and Sakhile.

Mbalula said he and Gigaba would write a report for the ANC National Working Committee (NWC). The NWC would examine the reportand take up discussion within the NEC.

Despite this, Mbalula and Gigaba said that some conclusions could already be drawn.

"It is quite clear to us that some of the challenges in the municipality deal with weaknesses in the leadership and social distances with the leaders and the communities," said Gigaba.

He said action had been taken on some of the issues the residents had raised but social distance created the perception of indifference.

"Because the council could not communicate to the people about the action taken, it seems like they are not taking any steps," said Gigaba.

He said a further problem was that many community leaders who claimed to represent Sakhile were not entitled to do so and might not have any real influence.

For the past few weeks, Sakhile township has been rocked by service delivery protests that have seen roads blockaded with burning tyres and garbage, and municipal buildings torched.

Residents have accused municipal officials of corruption and of ignoring the need for service delivery, such as water, electricity and roads, in the community.

They have demanded the resignation of councillors and mayor Juliet Queeneth Radebe-Khumalo.

The Democratic Alliance of Standerton has added its voice to the controversy, demanding that the municipality be placed under provincial administration.

Mbalula said that during the meeting, Radebe-Khumalo denied there was a service delivery problem. Rather, she said that the residents were being provided with services but the protests were being fuelled by varied interests and a scramble for power.

Mbalula and Gigaba also suggested that the protests were not solely motivated by grievances over poor service delivery.

"We are not sure these are purely service delivery protests or [whether] something else is involved," said Gigaba before quickly adding: "We are not saying there's a third force involved."

Mbalula said that he and Gigaba had toured the township in the morning and had spoken to residents. However, they declined to say whether there was a genuine lack of service delivery, saying any judgement would be premature.

"The issues are not as straightforward as service delivery. We have been told there is a plethora," said Mbalula.

"We are here to listen to everyone and not pass judgement on anyone," said Gigaba.

Mbalula said the problem was a "political one" and required a like solution. Time would be needed for the ANC to come to a decision and they appealed for calm.

"We are asking for calm and space for the political process," said Gigaba.

"You've made your point, your anger has been demonstrated. Now we call for calm."

However, Mbalula, in response to a question about accusations of excessive police force during the protest by residents, warned against any more violence.

"Any killing or burning of people is not allowed. A state of violence will not be allowed. This is not a banana republic," he said.

Mbalula and Gigaba promised that they would not leave Standerton before having spoken to all the affected people in the community.

"If need be we will sit through the night to see what each stakeholder wants to do," said Gigaba.