ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has agreed with Thabo Mbeki that the party is in need of reform as the former president called on the ANC to recover from “deep-rooted criminality”, but would not be drawn on whether membership and lifestyle audits are on the cards.
Mbeki’s recent address has sparked intense debate about the ANC’s future, saying that the party needed to “turn the page” and deliver essential services to South Africans.
The ANC needs political education and auditing among members to achieve its renewal dreams, Mbeki said at the party’s renewal workshop at the Birchwood Hotel on Sunday.
He said quality membership was crucial for the party’s desired growth. His words come amid allegations of widespread criminality within the party.
Mbeki shared a disturbing account from an unnamed provincial ANC chairperson, revealing that every ANC branch in a particular region is led by a criminal.
This revelation was met with laughter from ANC leaders, which Mbeki said suggested a deep-seated complacency, adding that the ANC had avoided campaigning in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, in the 2021 local elections to prevent installing criminal councillors.
The ANC’s support has continued to decline, with some polls indicating a drastic drop in for the upcoming local government elections.
Mbeki asserted: “The party’s inability to reform may lead to further losses in the 2026 local elections. The DA, EFF, and other opposition parties may capitalise on the ANC’s weaknesses, potentially becoming the largest party in Parliament.”
He said that the ANC could recover from its deep-seated criminality; however, the party’s future hung in the balance, and its inability to address these issues could cement its slide into electoral oblivion.
Mbalula, speaking to “The Star” on Tuesday, agreed with the former president, saying Mbeki was right and had provided good input.
However, Mbalula refused to comment to “The Star” on whether party members would be subjected to lifestyle and membership audits.
“No comment,” Mbalula wrote in a text to “The Star”.
Mbeki further called on the ANC in Gauteng to use state power for the party to regain its outright majority which it lost after this years elections.
The Gauteng ANC received 34.76% in the May elections while dipping below 45% nationally, forcing the ANC to forge the Government of National Unity (GNU) which has caused mayhem within the ANC tripartite alliance.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced that lifestyle audits for all provincial government heads of departments and CEOs had been completed.
He said the reports would be made public, aiming to ensure transparency and accountability.
During the debate on the State of the Province Address (Sopa), opposition leader Solly Msimanga emphasised the need to include politicians in the lifestyle audits.
“Why are politicians not included? We must know what those results tell us,” Msimanga said.
Msimanga also raised concerns about protecting whistle-blowers, citing the case of Babita Deokaran. “Whistle-blowers in Gauteng are still not protected … Many are scared to report wrongdoing due to lack of protection.”
Lesufi’s commitment to releasing lifestyle audit reports was seen as a step towards transparency. However, Msimanga’s call for politicians’ audits and whistle-blower protection highlighted ongoing concerns about accountability within the provincial government.
“The Star” reported at the weekend that the DA had instructed its lawyers to prepare for court action against the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill, which was signed by the president on Friday, citing constitutional grounds.
The DA objects to the bill’s provisions, particularly sections 4 and 5, which empower provincial departments to override school governing bodies on language policy decisions. The party argues that this violates the constitutional rights of parents and governing bodies in functional schools.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a three-month delay in implementing the clauses, citing the need for further discussions.
However, the DA remains sceptical, viewing this as a potential delaying tactic to defuse opposition before implementing the clauses later.
DA leader John Steenhuisen emphasised that the party will continue to fight the bill, including in the courts, if necessary. He argued that Afrikaans-medium schools, which constitute less than 5% of the country's schools, are not contributing to the education crisis and should not be targeted.
The DA is calling on the government to focus on improving the vast majority of poorly performing schools that teach through the medium of English, rather than violating the constitutional rights of parents and governing bodies in functional schools.
Pretoria News