Local newspaper
Die Zoutpansberger reported that Mdaka was a member of
Ximoko before joining the ANC, but Mdaka denied this. He served two terms as Regional Chairperson of the ANC's regional branch in Vhembe: he was in that office by 2007, and in 2009 he comfortably won re-election despite a challenge to his incumbency by Moses Tseli. Simultaneously, he was the Executive
Mayor of Vhembe District Municipality from 2007 until 2011. In April 2011, the
Sowetan reported that the ANC would not nominate Mdaka for a second term as mayor after
the local elections to be held in May that year. According to the newspaper, the provincial leadership of the party intended to replace Mdaka with a candidate more strongly aligned to
Cassel Mathale, then the ANC's
Provincial Chairperson in
Limpopo, and
Julius Malema, then the President of the
ANC Youth League. Mdaka was perceived as sympathetic to Malema's rival,
Lehlogonolo Masoga. though he remained a local councillor in Vhembe. Phaahla's supporters subsequently alleged that Mathale had won by dint of electoral irregularities at the conference; the
Mail & Guardian described Mdaka, in his capacity as Vhembe Regional Chairperson, as the "main complainant". However, in early 2012, Mdaka distanced himself from the matter, reportedly saying that he had signed his name to the complaint without reading it first. == Provincial political career ==