President Cyril Ramaphosa’s January 8 statement, marking the African National Congress’s (ANC) 113th anniversary, once again promised the renewal of the party, but the address has sparked mixed reactions across South African political spheres. Ramaphosa framed the renewal as a broad effort, encompassing not only the revitalization of the ANC but also improving governance, service delivery, and advancing socio-economic transformation. He highlighted the ANC’s launch of a foundational course for all members, including its leadership, to foster ethics and integrity within the party. However, the broader political environment remains tense, with several critics questioning the sincerity of these renewal promises given the party’s recent struggles.
The internal divisions within the ANC were palpable during the celebrations, particularly in the exchange between the party and its alliance partners. Thulas Nxesi, the deputy national chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP), faced jeers when he attempted to defend the ANC’s leadership and its achievements since 1994. Nxesi emphasized the role the ANC had played in advancing education, housing, and other social services but acknowledged that internal issues, such as factionalism, state capture, and corruption, had severely damaged the party’s credibility. His remarks, intended to foster unity, were met with hostility, underscoring the deepening tensions between the ANC and its left-wing partners.
The debate within the alliance also centers on the ANC’s approach to the upcoming elections and its decision to contest them independently. While the ANC leadership has endorsed this decision, it has not come without resistance, especially from the SACP. Nxesi voiced concerns that the lack of a reconfigured alliance could undermine the independence of the working-class partners within the coalition. He called for more thoughtful and less populist discussions to resolve these differences, urging leaders to avoid personal attacks and to engage in a constructive debate about the future of the alliance.
Cosatu president Zingiswa Losi expressed cautious support for Ramaphosa’s outlined priorities in his speech, especially the focus on ANC renewal and holding government officials accountable. However, Losi stressed the need for the ANC to reflect on its historical mission since its founding in 1912 and to understand how it lost significant electoral support. For her, genuine renewal can only occur when the ANC reconnects with its foundational values, takes responsibility for its past mistakes, and strengthens its commitment to the working-class and the broader populace.
Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe, however, remains skeptical about the ANC’s ability to deliver on its promises of renewal, citing the ongoing scandal surrounding the Phala Phala farm robbery. Seepe argued that the ANC cannot begin a genuine renewal process until it deals with the issue of corruption and political accountability, especially regarding Ramaphosa’s involvement in the scandal. According to Seepe, the President’s failure to fully address the controversy has significantly tarnished his credibility, making any further claims of moral leadership seem disingenuous. Voters, he contended, are no longer willing to tolerate such evasions, and this has become a major barrier to the ANC’s rejuvenation.
The challenge of economic transformation also looms large in the discourse surrounding the ANC’s renewal. Seepe pointed out that the ANC’s efforts to disrupt the apartheid-era economic infrastructure had faltered during its time in power, despite having an outright majority in government. With the addition of parties like the DA to the Government of National Unity (GNU), Seepe believes it is increasingly unlikely that the ANC can effect any substantial economic changes. He criticized the current leadership for lacking ideological direction, warning that the party’s promises of transformation ring hollow given its failure to make meaningful progress over the past three decades.
