By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has condemned comments by its NEC members Malusi Gigaba and Senzo Mchunu, accusing them of violating internal communication protocols.
Gigaba stated that the ANC’s NEC has “lost its way” and lacks clear direction, arguing that the GNU should have excluded the Democratic Alliance (DA) entirely. “I still hold that view, even now. I don’t think that the DA should have been part of the GNU,” he said, echoing divisions within the ANC over the coalition formed after the 2024 elections, where the party secured only 40% of the vote.
The future of the GNU has been under question since the DA voted against the budget in April, showing a deep divide within the grand coalition.
Despite the DA’s opposition, the budget managed to pass with a narrow majority thanks to support from smaller parties outside the GNU, which the ANC had negotiated with.
Notably, both parties view each other’s actions as a betrayal of the GNU and have accused each other of acting in bad faith.
The ANC has already indicated it will hit the “reset button” and start engaging with parties inside and outside the GNU.
Mchunu meanwhile warned that the ANC is “on the verge of collapse,” likening it to “a person walking on the edge of a cliff.” He stressed that the 2026 local government elections are make-or-break, saying, “If we do not win municipalities in the upcoming local government next year, come the national government elections we will be history.”
Mchunu attributed the ANC’s woes to arrogance and taking voters for granted, admitting, “We know that people still love the ANC … We became big-headed and started taking them for granted and they punished us.”
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri described Gigaba and Mchunu’s conduct as a “flagrant violation” of the party’s internal communication protocols and said it undermined the fundamental discipline of the movement.
“Their remarks do not reflect the views of any legitimate structure of the movement and must be seen as an opportunistic assault on the collective image, credibility, and cohesion of the African National Congress,” she said.
She accused them of casting aspersions on the ANC’s character and unity, which she warned weakened confidence in the party.
“No disciplined comrade would out of their own volition make statements that embolden forces that have long sought to reverse the gains of our revolution. The ANC will take the necessary steps to correct this behaviour and no comrade will be exempt from the discipline of the organisation which demands unity, discipline, and revolutionary morality from all, “Bhengu-Motsiri added.
She stressed the ANC was a revolutionary movement that was guided by democratic centralism principles and led through disciplined structures.
She said no member was above the requirements of organisational discipline and pointed to the party being on a renewal journey, saying the process could not co-exist with ill-discipline.
Meanwhile former President Kgalema Motlanthe has moved to clarify his absence at the National Convention last week, saying it was untrue that his foundation withdrew from the process.
In a statement, Motlanthe said he was invited as a guest in his personal capacity, but already had prior commitments related to the work of his foundation.
The Thabo Mbeki, FW de Klerk and Desmond and Leah Tutu foundations were among those that withdrew from the National Convention after clashing with NEDLAC over a date for the convention they believed was premature.
But Motlanthe said, unlike these legacy foundations, his was not involved in any preparatory work and therefore could not be viewed to have snubbed the first gathering in the dialogue process.
Motlanthe said that despite not being able to attend the two-day event, he sent organisers a letter of support.
“We remain committed to fostering spaces for inclusive dialogue, and to supporting every effort aimed at building a democratic, just and cohesive society,” reads the statement.
Writing in his weekly newsletter on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that a steering committee representative of civil society groups would be set up by the end of August to lead the rest of the dialogue process in conjunction with the eminent persons group.