PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma will visit the troubled Mpumalanga province on Sunday to get a first-hand account of the causes of recent violent service delivery protests.

The wave of protests has died down but stability, particularly within the ANC branches, has not fully returned .

The party continues to face the challenge of dealing with ambitious members who are positioning themselves for public office ahead of the coming local government elections in 2011.

Writing in the party online publication, ANC Today, national executive committee member Malusi Gigaba said some of the service delivery protests had not been so much about service delivery itself.

Gigaba said elements sowing divisions and orchestrating violent riots against councillors want to become councillors themselves in 2011.

He said service delivery issues were raised to highlight a much deeper challenge relating to political leadership.

Premier David Mabuza also recently insisted that protests were not about service delivery.

Zuma, accompanied by members of the national working committee, will also address regional general councils.