Mbalula dismisses leadership struggle ahead of NGC, emphasises renewal focus

African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has clarified that the party’s upcoming National General Council (NGC) will focus on reviewing and renewing the implementation of resolutions from the ANC’s 2022 national conference, and not on removing President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg on Monday, Mbalula dismissed reports suggesting that some senior members were pushing for a leadership change. 

He emphasised that the ANC has “closed ranks” to protect its president and focus on renewal.

“There is no leadership struggle in this at all. There's no leadership struggle. We're closing ranks. These are stories that are plotted deliberately by forces from within and outside our movement, who are hell-bent on disintegrating the ANC,” Mbalula said.

He stressed that the party’s priority is rebuilding and strengthening the organisation, adding that the public is “not interested in the issues of leadership and leadership squabbles and all of that.”

Mbalula reaffirmed confidence in President Ramaphosa’s leadership, describing him as “a corporate and a leader with thick skin. He understands his responsibilities. He's not deterred by any of this. He's focused on the task that has been given by the organisation to lead the African National Congress.”

He said the NGC would serve as a platform for critical reflection and robust engagement, aimed at strengthening the party rather than settling internal leadership disputes.

“The general council is a big political school. This weekend, we have just concluded our provincial general councils in the provinces. We have seen an organisation that is determined to come back and strengthen itself and ensure that renewal is a key buzzword for the organisation going forward,” Mbalula said.

Regarding delegates, Mbalula highlighted that all accredited members will have the opportunity to participate fully, and that the council would allow anyone with alternative views to present them directly.

“Anyone in the general council who will be coming with a view of things that we read and what you are probably told as the media by those sources that you've got, we want to see them. We don't want to see them as sources in your newsrooms. We want to see them and their agenda, and they must explain themselves,” he said.

On the South African Communist Party (SACP), Mbalula confirmed that the party remains an invited alliance partner, but that it has decided to contest elections independently.

“The SACP has informed the ANC that they will not retreat from their resolution of standing on their own and contesting elections. It is the decision of their organisation. They are independent. And their decision says no, we are not walking away from the alliance. We simply contest the election,” he said.

He noted that the implications of the SACP’s decision, including issues of dual membership, will be discussed at the NGC.

“This is not an ANC issue, it's an alliance matter. Its implications on a whole lot of issues are pregnant with possibilities that must be interrogated by the entire team of the liberation movement in our country. And that's what the ANC will be doing.

''As we present the report to the National General Council, we will equally deliberate on the alliance, which is what the alliance and the Communist Party decision in particular,” Mbalula said.

Mbalula also warned against external and internal forces attempting to destabilise the ANC, describing them as “dark forces” seeking to disintegrate the movement. “That is why a call is made to close ranks. 

''This is not the time to be discussing leadership when we are faced with an existential crisis as a movement. The focus of the ANC in this moment is rebuilding and renewing and making it a point that we come back stronger in all fronts,” he said.

The NGC, scheduled for 8 to 11 December 2025 at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, will review progress on organisational renewal, government performance, socio-economic reconstruction, and implementation of key resolutions from the 22nd National Conference.

Special focus will be placed on governance, local government interventions, economic priorities, and strengthening the ANC in communities, he said. 

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za 

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