Collen Malatji, the President of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to restoring discipline and unity as it works to regain support among voters. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika on Friday, Malatji acknowledged the challenging period the ANC is navigating but insisted that the party is focused on re-establishing its core values and principles. He responded strongly to rumors of potential disbandment of the ANC structures in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, dismissing them as baseless gossip spread by undisciplined members.
Malatji emphasized that the ANC is determined to move past the chaos and infighting that plagued the party in the years following the Polokwane conference. He stressed that the days of unchecked disorder within the ANC are over, and that those who undermine the movement’s values will face consequences. “We are going through a very difficult time of re-instilling discipline in the ANC. Post-Polokwane, it was just every cat, every rat, everyone doing as they pleased. Those days are gone,” he said. Malatji’s comments reflected his frustration with those trying to tarnish the ANC’s image, portraying it as disorganised and divided.
While some members have left the ANC to form new political parties, Malatji remains confident in the party’s appeal, particularly among South Africa’s youth. He pointed out that despite the challenges the ANC faced in the May 2024 general elections, including the economic impact of Covid-19 and high levels of unemployment, the party still commands significant support. “We could have done more, but the elections came when we were fresh from Covid-19. There is high unemployment, and many companies listed on the JSE disinvested from our economy. The ANC was under siege,” he explained. Malatji acknowledged the pressure from both internal and external forces, including counter-revolutionaries, regime-change movements, and even former liberation fighters aligning against the ANC. However, he remains optimistic, stating that the ANC Youth League is now stronger and more organised, with hopes for a better performance in the 2026 elections.
Political analyst Sandile Swana recently suggested that the disbandment of the ANC’s provincial executive committees (PECs) in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal could trigger a significant exodus of ANC members to rival groups, such as the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), led by former president Jacob Zuma. Swana argued that this shift, combined with the ANC’s declining voter base, might force the party to seek external alliances to stay relevant. These comments come in the wake of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statements that the ANC is still deliberating whether to disband the PECs of the two provinces, given their poor election performance last May.
Ramaphosa’s remarks, made on the sidelines of the 25th annual Joe Slovo commemoration, highlighted the ongoing internal discussions within the ANC. The party’s national executive committee (NEC) had met earlier in the week, with the primary focus being the drafting of the January 8 Statement, which marks the founding of the ANC. Fikile Mbalula, the ANC Secretary-General, indicated that a final decision on the future of the two provinces would be made in January.
As the ANC prepares to celebrate its 113th anniversary this weekend in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, the party is determined to emerge stronger. Despite the controversies and challenges, the ANC continues to navigate its course, committed to instilling discipline within its ranks and looking towards the future with a focus on youth engagement and a renewed sense of purpose.