Mbalula: ANC Bleeding Support As Corruption, State Capture and “Money Politics” Take Their Toll
Tasha Siziba
Boksburg – A frank and fiery midterm report by ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has laid bare how the party is losing support among the Black middle class and why the organization is struggling to win back its credibility.
Speaking at the ANC’s 5th National General Council (NGC) at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Mbalula said the decline in support “did not happen by accident” but is the direct result of corruption, economic stagnation and the marginalisation of key constituencies.
Delegates joined by the ANC’s Top Six erupted into song at the end of his address, chanting “Siphethe unobhala one content”, acknowledging what many described as the most hard-hitting report of the gathering so far.
Corruption, unemployment, state capture – and moral authority lost
Mbalula said the ANC’s authority and appeal have been eroded by service-delivery failures, rampant unemployment and the legacy of state capture.
These crises, he admitted, have weakened the party’s connection to young people and the Black middle strata who once viewed the ANC as the custodian of transformation.
“Money politics” eating the ANC from the inside
He singled out “money politics” as one of the most destructive forces in the organisation, fuelling factional battles, influencing election contests and distorting fundraising.
Factionalism, he warned, is not only weakening internal discipline but eating away at the ANC’s unity at a time when the party can least afford internal implosion.
SACP contesting elections: a new headache
Mbalula also raised concerns about the South African Communist Party’s decision to contest the 2021 local government elections, saying it presents new challenges for the alliance, particularly in relation to dual membership and internal coordination.
“We don’t contest elections for positions.”
He defended the ANC’s electoral mission, arguing the party does not enter elections simply to occupy government seats but to secure a popular mandate to govern in the interests of society.
What must change? Consequences.
Mbalula said the development of a “consequences management framework” has become urgent, signalling tougher internal accountability measures.
The NGC serves as a mid-term audit of the ANC’s direction since the last national conference – but this year’s review has more of a warning siren than a progress update.
As delegates continue deliberations, the central question remains: can the ANC restore trust and reconnect with the young, urban and increasingly sceptical voters it is fast losing, or is this midterm report an obituary in slow motion?