By Simon Nare
The ANC will hold a special national executive committee (NEC) meeting next week to craft an intervention plan for struggling municipalities ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the NEC, the party’s highest decision-making body between conferences, will focus on implementation programmes across the country.
He added that once the meeting concludes, the ANC will convene a “roll call” of all public representatives to issue the marching orders adopted by the NEC.
“The meeting of the special NEC and the roll call will mean that the ANC will implement an action plan, consolidate its grip and address the weaknesses that are there in local municipalities,” he said.
In preparation for the 2026 local elections, Mbalula said the party had empowered its Electoral Committee, in line with the 54th and 55th congress resolutions, to ensure that only ethical and people-centred cadres are nominated as candidates.
“Councilors and candidates must be visible, accountable and rooted in their communities, leading with humility and confidence. Only the Electoral Committee is mandated to communicate publicly on mandate and selection of candidates to ensure coherence, integrity and discipline,” he said.
Mbalula said the party was buoyed by recent victories in by-elections and this should strengthen branch activism and renew grassroots confidence.
He added this was affirmation that the ANC remained the only trusted organisation in the country.
“The biggest challenge we face in terms of our citizenry is the decline of participation in the democratic processes of our country. The Government of National Unity is a reflection of the democratic mandate of the 2024 elections and it is anchored in ANC-led policies and programs, including the presidential employment stimulus,” he said.
The Secretary General said the ANC remained the central stabilising force in the GNU and will continue to review structural arrangements to enforce stability and sharpen the focus on service delivery.
Mbalula said meaningful strides have been made in the 7th administration in implementing programs to wage a war against poverty and providing relief to the daily lives of people.
He said municipal governments remained the critical sphere of governance as enshrined in the constitution.
“In this regard the ANC welcomes the recent changes in local government leadership in some of our provinces. This action reaffirms our commitment to ensure service delivery is not undermined or sabotaged in any form.
“We call on all councilors to desist from acting outside the collective decisions of the ANC which are aimed at strengthening stability in municipalities and transforming the lives of our people,” he said.
Mbalula acknowledged the progressive work that is being achieved in eThekwini municipality, the offshoots in the Johannesburg and developments in Tshwane.
Mbalula warned members against contradictory public spats and unauthorised statement and social media conducts saying there were acts of defiance.
This followed disciplinary actions against ANC MP Malusi Gigaba and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu who were deemed to have spoken out of tune when they raised challenges publicly.
“The ANC reaffirms its commitment to the 2018 NEC communication protocol. The ANC speaks with one voice. The president is the policy face of the organisation, the secretary general is the chief spokesman and the national spokesperson is the official media liaison,” he said.
He said the NEC has emphasised that his office must deal decisively with ill-discipline in the organisation when it is perpetuated at national level.
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