The African National Congress (ANC), now 113 years old, finds itself at a crossroads after suffering a historic defeat in the May 2024 general elections. For the first time since the dawn of democracy, the party lost its majority in Parliament, a blow that has not only shaken its leadership but also exposed the deepening dissatisfaction among South Africans with the party’s governance. Once seen as a beacon of hope and liberation, the ANC has increasingly struggled with corruption scandals, a deteriorating economy, power outages, and a water crisis that have eroded public trust.
Despite these challenges, Gwede Mantashe, the ANC’s national chairperson, remains resolute about the party’s ongoing renewal process. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika after the party’s 113th anniversary celebrations, Mantashe emphasized that the road to renewal is gradual. “The only problem is that people think renewal is an event. Renewal is not an event, it is a process,” he said, clarifying that change takes time and must follow a step-by-step plan. Mantashe also pointed to signs of progress, including the revitalization of the party’s leagues, which were once in disarray but are now functioning well. “All our leagues today are in good standing. That is the process of renewal,” he explained.
The May election results were a harsh wake-up call for the ANC. With pre-election polls predicting a sharp decline, few anticipated the party’s fall to just 40% of the national vote. This dramatic loss forced the ANC into uncharted waters: the need to form a coalition government. In Mantashe’s view, the loss of the majority was a “massive setback,” but it also required the ANC to think on its feet and act quickly to preserve governance. “We had to use our brain quicker, to ensure that there is governance, and it protects state power, without having a majority,” Mantashe reflected. He pointed out that, unlike in many other nations, where a loss of power can lead to instability or even war, the ANC had to focus on ensuring stability and effective governance despite the new coalition arrangement. “We had to take responsibility that there is stability and there is governance in the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent remarks on ANC renewal during the party’s anniversary celebrations in Khayelitsha have drawn mixed reactions. Speaking on January 8, Ramaphosa highlighted that the ANC’s renewal was not just about fixing the party but also about improving governance, service delivery, and tackling socio-economic transformation. “Renewal as such, is about fixing the ANC. It is as much, also, about improving the quality of governance and service delivery,” he said. He also noted the launch of the ANC foundational course, aimed at ensuring all members, including the leadership, go through a program designed to instill a culture of ethics and integrity.
Despite these efforts, the ANC’s internal tensions continue to surface, particularly in its relationship with the South African Communist Party (SACP). During the anniversary event, Thulas Nxesi, the SACP’s deputy national chairperson, was met with jeers and boos when he addressed the audience. His comments, reiterating that the decision for the ANC to contest elections was made by the entire leadership and not just ANC General Secretary Solly Mapaila, appeared to strike a nerve with some in the crowd. The incident highlighted the simmering tensions between the two parties, despite attempts by both sides to downplay the discord.
As the ANC looks to renew itself in the face of its most significant challenges in decades, it remains clear that the road ahead will not be easy. The party’s ability to navigate internal divisions, restore public trust, and fulfill its promises of socio-economic transformation will determine whether it can regain the support it has lost. While the ANC leadership insists that renewal is underway, many South Africans remain skeptical, awaiting tangible results rather than empty promises.
