By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) briefed the media on the state of readiness for the upcoming 5th National General Council (NGC).
The NGC is scheduled to take place from December 8 to 12, 2025, at the Birchwood Hotel in Gauteng.
The NGC is a mid-term review event where approximately 1,600 delegates will assess implementation of policies and resolutions adopted at last National Conference and propose new recommendations for deliberation at the next conference.
The theme for the 2025 NGC is “The Year of Renewal: Making the ANC a More Effective Instrument of the People to Achieve the Vision of the Freedom Charter.”
The party’s secretary general Fikile Mbalula said the party has improved its coordination between various local and provincial structures, which has contributed to smooth preparations.
“Preparations for the NGC are at an advanced stage with all logistical arrangements aligned to the directive of the National Executive Committee. The ANC is fully ready to host the delegates, stakeholders, and observers… Coordination between national and provincial structures has improved significantly,” he said.
According to Mbalula, the NGC’s agenda includes evaluating the progress of organisational renewal, government performance, socio-economic reconstruction, and the execution of key resolutions adopted at the 22nd national conference. He emphasised that “A special focus will be placed on governance, especially local government interventions and economic strengthening of the ANC in communities.”
The NEC is currently meeting to finalise preparations to convene a NGC next week.
Mbalula also said the NEC will discuss the South African Communist Party (SACP) decision to contest the 2026 local government elections on its own.
Last Monday, the parties held a bilateral meeting in an attempt by the ANC to convince the SACP to reconsider its stance on contesting the elections alone.
Their decision is pregnant with a number of possibilities in terms of the alliance, and it brings up issues of dual membership in the communist party — because how do you contest against the ANC while also being part of the communist party? That is an issue we are going to discuss, “he said.
“In the past, we did not have any problems with dual membership. Now, if you contest on your own, the issue of dual membership is definitely on the agenda. The SACP has informed the ANC that they will not retract their resolution to stand on their own and contest the elections. What we will be discussing are the implications of that decision for the ANC and the alliance.”
Mbalula added that the NEC would provide guidance on the SACP’s decision to contest the elections independently, saying the matter does not concern only the ANC but also affects its alliance partners, including labour federation Cosatu.
Meanwhile the ANC Youth League and Veterans League expressed strong support for President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This comes amid speculation over internal moves to unseat Ramaphosa at the party’s NGC.
Ramaphosa urged his political detractors to cease discussing his exit in dark corners like cowards. He told the NEC that if he is asked to resign, he would even do it tomorrow.
According to Mbalula said that the NGC should be used as a place for leadership succession discussions.
He will not go because he was elected by members of the ANC, not by those who are peddling negativity. There’s nowhere the president is going. He is doing very well and leading a collective,” Mbalula said.