By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) National Working Committee (NWC) has received a report detailing the party’s poor performance in the May elections in KwaZulu-Natal.
The NWC met with provincial leadership to discuss the findings and address the issues.
In the May elections, the ANC secured less than 17% of the vote in KwaZulu-Natal, a decline attributed to several factors including the growing influence of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
The national working committee has been considering replacing the PECs of both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal with task teams in a bid to strengthen the ANC’s structures ahead of the 2026 local government elections. It has also considered the option of “augmenting” them by sending senior leaders to effectively take the reins in the province.
The party’s secretary general Fikile Mbalula says various options are being considered, but disbanding the PEC remains possible, if necessary.
“We went to KZN, we visited Gauteng because we have lost ground in a big way, and then we have done the work of the NWC and we need to report now to the NEC about what needs to be done in KZN as well as in Gauteng.
“So that’s what we’re going to do. This meeting was not called to disband or to announce a decision of intervention. It was to finalise our work.
“The final decision will be made by the party’s national executive committee at its last meeting of the year in two weeks,” said Mbalula.
“Disbandment can be taken if it has to be taken to intervene in response to that situation there, and then it’s part of the options that we’ll look at when we meet next week before the NEC meeting, and one option we agree to we’ll table it to the NEC, and then we implement as lead to the next conference.”
The KwaZulu-Natal leadership was also served with a gag order, prohibiting its leaders from making public utterances about the lengthy meeting with the NWC.
Mbalula believes this move will quell the noise and any dissent to save the party from public meltdowns and speculation over the structure’s future.
“As far as this matter is concerned, we don’t want to see or hear anyone in front of a camera. Our position is very clear: it has been explained that the secretary-general of the ANC will speak on behalf of the ANC on this matter.”
He read the riot act to leaders who might be planning to rebel, saying he will unleash the party’s disciplinary processes on anyone who does not toe the line.
Mbalula also responded to comments by KZN secretary Bheki Mtolo, who publicly blamed the party’s president and secretary-general for the poor electoral performance.
Mtolo believes the ANC’s National Executive Committee, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mbalula, should equally take responsibility for the dismal showing at the polls.
“Let me explain to you if anyone wants to disband the NEC there are constitutional procedures. If they want to do so, sign a petition or do whatever that you can and then the NEC will deal with that,” said Mbalula.
Mbalula said the ANC leadership is focused on stabilising the organisation.
“We are going to a General Council. Others want to define it as a battleground for the soul of the NEC. We are not concerned about that.