As South Africa’s political focus shifts to national coalitions, the question of the ANC’s recovery looms large. Former president Thabo Mbeki, one of the party’s most respected figures, has recently addressed this topic, highlighting what the party must do to regain the trust of the people. Mbeki’s comments, made during a Gauteng ANC leadership workshop, reflect his deep concerns about the state of the party and its future prospects.
Mbeki’s Call for Action
In his speech, Mbeki asked a crucial question: “What must we do to ensure we deliver the goods and services expected of us at all levels of government?” His message was clear — if the ANC wants to win back voters, it must focus on improving the lives of citizens. While this may seem like an obvious point, Mbeki clearly felt it needed to be emphasized.
The reality is that South Africa’s citizens have grown weary of unfulfilled promises, and without concrete actions, the ANC will continue to lose its support base. However, Mbeki’s speech revealed deeper concerns about the party’s internal state.
Criminality Within the ANC
During his address, Mbeki shared a troubling story told to him by an unnamed ANC provincial chairperson. According to the chairperson, every single ANC branch in a certain region was led by a criminal. Shockingly, Mbeki recounted that ANC leaders in the room laughed at this statement. He also claimed that the party did not campaign in Newcastle during the 2021 local elections to avoid installing criminals as councillors. This revelation speaks to a more profound issue: criminality may be deeply rooted in the ANC, and party leaders seem to accept this as the norm.
The ANC’s Longstanding Corruption
Mbeki has often criticized ANC leadership for allowing corruption and incompetence to take root within the party. While he refused to campaign for the ANC during Jacob Zuma’s tenure as leader, he eventually returned to support the party in the run-up to recent elections. However, Mbeki’s concerns about the ANC’s slide into dereliction go back years. In 2007, during Mbeki’s leadership, then ANC secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe famously declared that “the rot is across the board.”
While Mbeki is right in his assessment that the ANC must improve its service delivery, there is little evidence to suggest that the party is capable of doing so. Despite repeated assertions from current ANC leader President Cyril Ramaphosa about the party’s path to renewal, many within the ANC continue to hold positions of power despite their controversial pasts.
The Perception of Inaction
Ramaphosa’s talk of renewal appears increasingly hollow. Figures like Malusi Gigaba and David Mahlobo, who have been involved in various scandals, continue to hold positions in government. This has fueled cynicism within the party and eroded public trust. After Mbeki’s speech, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi stated, “Our agenda is renewal and in the process, if we create enemies, history will apologise on our behalf.” However, Lesufi’s words ring hollow when considering Gauteng’s history of scandals, from the Life Esidimeni tragedy to the ongoing issues in the provincial health department. The ANC’s inability to root out corruption and reform itself casts doubt on its ability to deliver meaningful change.
The Path to Electoral Oblivion
If the ANC continues to resist reform, it will face severe consequences in future elections. The party’s refusal to embrace national coalition models, as well as its attempts to keep the Democratic Alliance (DA) out of provincial governance, only exacerbates its problems. As the ANC struggles to reform, it risks losing more votes, bringing it closer to the scenario painted by DA Federal Executive chair Helen Zille, who has repeatedly argued that the ANC will eventually fracture and become increasingly powerless.
Mbeki’s Stark Warning
Mbeki’s warning is a wake-up call for the ANC. If a former president, who remains one of the country’s most popular political figures, publicly acknowledges the level of criminality within the party, it raises serious questions about the ANC’s future. Many South Africans believe that the ANC has long ceased to function as a legitimate political party and has instead devolved into a criminal organization.
Years ago, such accusations would have been met with fierce resistance from ANC members. Today, however, even the party’s former president is voicing these concerns. Mbeki’s assessment paints a grim picture for the ANC’s future. Unless it makes substantial changes, the party will continue its slide toward electoral oblivion.
Conclusion
Thabo Mbeki’s speech highlights the ANC’s deep-rooted problems and its inability to enact meaningful reform. Despite repeated calls for renewal, the party remains mired in scandal and corruption. Without significant changes, the ANC’s future looks bleak, and its downward trajectory is unlikely to reverse.
