Discussions have commenced on the possible disbandment of the African National Congress (ANC) Provincial Executive Committees (PECs) in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. This comes as the ANC continues to analyse its performance during last year’s general election.
For the first time since the dawn of democracy, the once-dominant ANC finds itself co-governing with other political parties through a Government of National Unity.
Last week, at the party’s January 8th Statement, party leader Cyril Ramaphosa made it clear that the party will focus on strengthening its branches, with the theme of renewal ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
The dismal performance of the ANC during the 2024 general elections is still under the spotlight and haunts the oldest liberation movement on the African continent.
‘Various options’
The ANC’s highest decision-making body, the NEC, holds its first ordinary meeting to continue self-introspecting. A key item on top of the agenda is the potential disbandment of the ANC KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng PECs following their poor performance in the May 2024 elections.
On the sidelines of the meeting, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula tells the media that the organisation has various options to consider.
Mbalula adds that as the ANC continues with its renewal path, the party will not take anything for granted.
“As you know we are highly challenged, and we have lost power in the Western Cape, and we are still struggling to come back. So, we don’t want what happened in the Western Cape to follow us in the two provinces. It is important that leadership takes decisions and gives guidance to the structures. We have been told many things that decisions have been considered for individual interests,” says Mbalula.
The party says the outcome and decisions of its NEC meeting will be communicated once the ANC has informed its provincial structures about what was deliberated during the two-day gathering.
Video: ANC NEC meeting media briefing
