A Pivotal Moment for the ANC's Political Survival

Dr. Reneva Fourie

AMID a stream of scandals and shocking crime stories that plague our media landscape, the African National Congress has taken action by releasing a crucial base document to equip its members for the upcoming National General Council, set for 8-12 December.

Titled ‘ANC Renewal to Advance the Freedom Charter’, this document decisively outlines the necessary steps to address the party’s current strengths and weaknesses while confronting both domestic and international threats and opportunities.

The NGC is a fundamental gathering in the processes of the ANC. Intended as a mid-term review between conferences, it is meant to provide sober reflection on policies, programmes, and strategy, and to ensure that the ANC continues to serve as the agent of social, economic, and political transformation.

Yet, over the past few years, this essential purpose has degenerated into a platform to mount leadership contestation and factional battles.

Leadership matters, but it has too often been allowed to overshadow the real task at hand –  namely, to ask honestly whether the ANC’s governance is making a difference in the daily lives of people. In a context marked by unprecedented domestic and global challenges, indulgence in leadership positioning and factional squabbles is a luxury the ANC cannot afford. 

The NGC should reclaim its core function and confront the pressing realities facing the liberation movement. It offers perhaps one of the last opportunities to halt the drift that threatens the ANC’s credibility and relevance.

Failure to act with urgency and focus risks bringing the era of governance by South Africa’s liberation movement to an end, which will lead to the reversal of the pro-poor gains achieved since democracy. 

The ANC’s Renewal Programme, which has been adopted as a framework for organisational and policy rejuvenation, provides a clear pathway forward. It offers the potential to modernise the ANC’s structures, reinvigorate its leadership, and restore public confidence in the party as the principal instrument for social justice, economic advancement, and national unity.

The ANC has launched renewal programmes before, yet they delivered little. The credibility of the current effort is already in doubt, as, based on the scandals that dominate the media, some appear content to do the bare minimum while clinging to a toxic ‘loot while we can’ mentality. Such conduct is corrosive and represents a direct betrayal of the ANC’s founding values.

Opposition parties are exploiting every weakness, magnifying every failure, and even inventing scandals to deepen the perception of incompetence. Citizens, frustrated by this situation, are turning to multiple platforms in a desperate attempt to stop South Africa from sinking.

Yet even these initiatives are weakened by leaders chasing personal gain. The National Dialogue has become a contest of egos, while the G20 and other global forums reveal world leaders sowing instability to protect their dominance.

The ANC cannot rely solely on the prestige of its liberation legacy. Renewal must be more than words. The ANC must position itself better as a modern political party, capable of appealing not only to those who experienced the liberation struggle but also to the post-apartheid generation.

Policies, communication strategies, and organisational practices must speak to the aspirations, frustrations, and opportunities of young South Africans navigating a digital economy, technological transformation, and a rapidly changing world of work. 

It requires putting the people’s needs above personal ambition. It requires discipline, integrity, and the courage to transform daily realities. And it requires ruthless steps against corruption in all its forms.

Balancing the values of the liberation movement with contemporary relevance is critical if the ANC is to maintain legitimacy in the eyes of citizens whose experiences differ from those of its founding generation.

Renewal must also extend to the ANC’s relations with its alliance partners. Its historical allies, the South African Communist Party, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, and the South African National Civic Organisation, have been central to its political influence and moral authority. Recent years have tested these bonds, sometimes exposing strain and misalignment.

The ANC must work actively to rebuild trust and find common ground. The alliance should once again function as a unified coalition for transformation that champions the interests of the working class, the poor, and the most vulnerable in society. 

The Renewal Programme, if taken seriously, requires bold action. The ANC cannot survive on minor adjustments. It needs to show leadership that recognises the coalition politics of our time and embraces the new form of the alliance as proposed by the SACP.

Its policies must prioritise the poor, the working class, and those left out of economic opportunity. They must also position South Africa as a strong advocate for the Global South, for equitable development, and for a fairer international order. This is not a matter of choice. It is a necessity if the ANC is to remain relevant.

This NGC provides a critical juncture for such transformation and offers a platform for renewal to become a reality. The domestic and international context is complex and evolving. At home, inequality and unemployment remain stubbornly high, while service delivery failures weaken public confidence. Globally, geopolitical instability affects our economy and determines the options available to developing countries. 

The choices made at this NGC will shape the organisation for years to come. Delegates have the opportunity to demonstrate authentic leadership rooted in honesty, selflessness, and vision. Renewal is not optional.

It is the only way to safeguard the ANC’s credibility, its relevance, and its mission of transformation. To fail in this task would be to betray not only the sacrifices of those who brought us democracy, but also the hopes of those who continue to place their trust in the ANC.

The task before the ANC is significant. It calls for honesty, discipline, maturity, and a consistent commitment to the collective good. The National General Council must take this responsibility seriously and use the opportunity to convince all of us that the ANC can still function as a leading force for social and political transformation in South Africa.

* Dr Reneva Fourie is a policy analyst specialising in governance, development, and security.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.