By Simon Nare
The ANC national executive committee (NEC) has tasked the party’s top officials with drafting a plan for the reconfiguration of leadership structures in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
This comes after the NEC resolved to reconfigure the leadership of Gauteng and KZN structures, after a major electoral loss in both provinces.
Speaking at a post-NEC briefing on Monday at Luthuli House in Johannesburg, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula announced that the NEC had endorsed the national working committee’s (NWC) recommendations for reconfiguration of the two provinces.
“This reconfiguration will be guided by the constitution of the ANC. We will present to the structures of the organisation in the coming week on how this reconfiguration will take effect,” said Mbalula.
“The two provinces affected by this decision of the ANC NEC are not being targeted. This decision is focused on the task of renewal and rebuilding of the ANC in those two provinces as well as strengthening the leadership.”
Both provinces faced massive scrutiny amid speculation that their structures might be disbanded due to their poor performance in last year’s national and provincial polls, with KZN securing only 17% and Gauteng 35% of the vote.
Mbalula clarified that, instead of outright dissolution, the NEC had opted for reconfiguration in response to these electoral setbacks.
“The report was thorough and analytical. Following (presentation of) the report, the NEC had an extensive discussion which was rich and reflective, focusing on the task of renewal and rebuilding of the ANC in those two provinces as well as strengthening leadership,” said Mbalula.
“It was agreed that unity of the ANC should be our overriding objective and to achieve this we must ensure that the leaders of the ANC at all levels work together renewing and building the organization together.”
Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, Mbalula noted that immediate measures were necessary given the significance of Gauteng and KZN both in terms of population size and economic influence.
Mbalula confirmed that similar assessments would be conducted in other provinces to address support challenges.
He reiterated the ANC’s commitment to renewing and rebuilding its structures across the board, reaffirming the party’s leadership and strategic direction moving forward.
“Reconfiguring the structures in line with the framework of the (ANC) constitution, the national officials must bring a proposal on the reconfiguration of leadership in KZN and Gauteng to the NWC withing a week,” said Mbalula.
“Whatever action is taken should not interfere with the work of government in the two provinces. Is Gauteng and KZN targeted? They are definitely not. If you look at Gauteng and KZN, they are the most populous and over and above that we have dropped everywhere but we have lost in Gauteng and KZN. We had to take a deep dive to say how do we arrest the possibility of a total demise.”
He added: “You can argue that in KZN you can use the terminology decimation. We are totally decimated there to 17%. So, you don’t fold arms in that situation and not do anything.”
Mbalula also confirmed that the ANC’s National Lekgotla, scheduled from January 26 to 28, will focus on the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) of the seventh administration.
“The ANC will hold its National Lekgotla from January 26 to 28, 2025, focusing on the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) of the 7th administration. This forum will review the progress of the 2024 Manifesto and strategize on implementation the January 8th tasks outlined by President Ramaphosa,” he said.
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