By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the closing address of the special sitting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Germiston.
The party deliberated over the state of the economy, the Government of National Unity (GNU) and its alliance partner, the South African Communist Party (SACP), seeking to contest elections outside of the ANC.
The NEC has resolved to engage with political parties outside the GNU to stabilise governance and push for key reforms.
The decision comes as the GNU, now more than a year old, continues to face multiple challenges and remains fragile.
Ramaphosa said the committee had received a detailed report on the GNU and held robust discussions, ultimately acknowledging the growing fragility of the governing arrangement.
“The Budget process has taught us many lessons, including being able to build tactical and issue-based voting alliances with other parties. We welcome the cooperation on the Budget, including with parties that are not part of the Government of National Unity,” said Ramaphosa.
The Budget was eventually passed with support from parties outside the formal GNU arrangement, including ActionSA and Build One South Africa, a development that Ramaphosa described as “a real demonstration of acting in the interests of the people of South Africa”.
“We are grateful to all those parties that cooperated with us to have the Budget passed. The overall picture is that despite all the noise through the GNU we have been able to safeguard the core progressive policy agenda of the National Democratic Revolution, which is the core pillar of ANC policy,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa said the NEC had agreed to engage with parties that were willing to play a “constructive role in furthering national unity and stability” so it could achieve three strategic priorities: driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living and building a capable developmental state.
With the 2026 local elections looming, Ramaphosa said, “The marching order to all ANC-run municipalities and ward councillors is that we cannot proceed as if it continues to be business as usual. We need to undertake extraordinary measures to address challenges at local government level.”
In a week or two, the NEC will hold a special session to focus more attention on the challenges in local government.
The NEC also believes the SACP’s decision to contest elections outside ANC will significantly weaken the forces for national democratic change.
“We will continue to seek to engage with the SACP on how we will run those elections. We will go out from this meeting to explain our position to our structures at every level of our organisation, so that comrades, members of the ANC, are empowered to explain the challenge this poses to our transformation agenda,” said Ramaphosa.
Although the NEC is opposed to the SACP contesting elections, Ramaphosa stressed the need for unity within the broader alliance.
Meanwhile the party’s deputy president Paul Mashatile and NEC member Thembi Simelane were ejected from ANC NEC meeting as integrity commission presented graft cases.
Mashatile has been facing a backlash over a Constantia estate in Cape Town valued at R28.9 million, which he previously claimed was owned by his son-in-law’s company.
The other is a Waterfall property in Midrand, reportedly valued at R37 million. Within a year, Mashatile has declared at least two high-value properties, including the Constantia estate he once denied owning.
Simelane has misled Parliament in trying to explain a R575,600 loan she obtained from VBS corruption accused fixer Ralliom Razwinane in 2016.
A fact-check of her statements before the portfolio committee for justice and constitutional development on 6 September, which she voluntarily attended in an effort to clear her name, has revealed a raft of inconsistencies and false and misleading statements.
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Video Courtesy of MYANC.