The African National Congress (ANC) is confronting internal discord as allegations emerge that some members are secretly collaborating with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).
This revelation adds to the party’s recent struggles, particularly after a significant electoral setback in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where its support plummeted from 54% in 2019 to a mere 17% in the latest elections.
During a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held in Boksburg on Monday, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri addressed the issue, signaling a firm stance on the matter.
“We are not in the business of pounding people and second-guessing our own leaders and members. We believe that those who don’t find pleasure in the ANC anymore are free to go to whichever party.”
Her remarks were a clear response to reports that some senior ANC officials are supporting the MK Party while retaining their positions in the ANC.
These claims have sparked concern within the ANC, which is striving to strengthen its ranks amid declining voter support.
Bhengu-Motsiri emphasised the importance of the NWC meeting as a follow-up to a prior electoral performance review, with a particular focus on KZN’s role in the party’s overall vote share.
Speculation about the future of the KZN Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) has intensified, especially after the recent electoral losses.
Last week, KZN ANC chairperson Bheki Mtolo refused to shoulder the blame alone, insisting that President Cyril Ramaphosa and Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula must also accept responsibility for the ANC’s national decline in support.
“ANC nationally got 40%, meaning the NEC lost the country by 40%. The NEC led by Ramaphosa and Mbalula lost the country to that. They must take that responsibility,” Mtolo stated.
According to reports, political analyst Mzoxolo Mpolase said that the allegations of ANC members collaborating with the MK Party are not surprising.
Mpolase described the MK Party as a strategic rival to the ANC, suggesting its survival depends on weakening both the ANC and, to a lesser extent, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
He added that the ANC’s much-touted “renewal” initiative has become more of a slogan than a reality.
As the ANC grapples with internal dissent and external competition, its ability to maintain political dominance in the face of rising opposition remains in question.
Facebook Comments