The African National Congress’ renewal must be more than a superficial change as it requires fundamental transformation of leadership and governance, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said on Tuesday.

“Renewal is not cosmetic; it is a radical overhaul of how we lead, organise and serve. It means uprooting the culture of complacency, factionalism and gatekeeping, and replacing it with a disciplined, accountable and [an] activist movement,” Mbalula told reporters in Johannesburg.

The launch of the party’s smart membership card was highlighted as a historic step towards restoring the ANC to its members, promoting integrity and empowerment within the ANC.

Furthermore, he reiterated political education would be a key pillar of this renewal, with the introduction of a foundational course for all party structures to create ideologically grounded leaders capable of driving transformation.

“We are training a new generation of cadres who are grounded, ideologically clear, and ready to lead transformation,” Mbalula said.

Addressing concerns about the ANC’s financial health, Mbalula admitted to challenges, including delayed salary payments, but assured that fundraising efforts were ongoing.

He rejected claims of bankruptcy, emphasising that the party complied with the Independent Electoral Commission’s financial disclosure requirements.

On governance negotiations within the Government of National Unity, Mbalula acknowledged ongoing discussions on devolution and operational strategies.

He reiterated that the ANC remained committed to constructive engagement while opposing any move that weakened the party’s transformative agenda.

Mbalula said that with major infrastructure initiatives, political restructuring and policy reforms on the horizon, the party aimed to strengthen its position ahead of its national general council on 8-12 December 2025.04.01

The party’s NEC met over the weekend.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa says the ANC’s new smart card system will help rid the party of the “corrupt” gatekeeping practice.

Through the new system, the ANC has established that 600,000 of its members are in good standing.

The party launched the system at the start of its scheduled national executive committee meeting at the Birchhwood Hotel in Boksburg in Ekurhuleni on Friday, with Ramaphosa the first to get his smart card.

He was followed by the party’s national officials and after the president addressed the meeting, some of the veterans were handed theirs too.

Ramaphosa hailed the new system as a milestone in the party’s renewal and rebuilding process.

“The new membership card will make the process of joining the ANC more seamless as the SG (secretary-general) was saying. It should reduce the practice of gatekeeping.

“Gatekeeping has been one of the ills and… one of the very corrupt ways that has been utilised to get members to be compromised in terms of being associated with the ANC.

“The new system will go a long way in attracting the most capable and committed competent members amongst in its ranks. The system formed part of the party’s broader renewal and rebuilding process that is going to focus on the ANC members,” he said.

The president said the system must be complimented by a recruitment campaign that should reach out to all South Africans, irrespective of their race, colour, creed and where they came from.

He said everyone who accepted the ANC principles, policies, programmes and constitution would be welcomed.

Further, Ramaphosa said, the recruitment campaign must be accompanied by intense political education, including the foundational course designed for the new members. The package also includes the party’s constitution, strategy and tactics as well as the Freedom Charter.

He said the party would soon roll out the new membership cards in what he described as a massive campaign that would generate a lot of enthusiasm amongst the members.

“Wherever one goes, whether its door to door or [a] rally, people always raise the issue of I have not received my membership card. I would like to have a membership card. So, this is going to be a prize possession for our members because it will be a badge not only of honour, but it will also a badge of association with the ANC,” he said.

Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the system would make it possible to detect when branch general meetings were being held and how some secretaries were denying some members access.

He said that with the new system, members would be able to call the national office and give the card number and receive prompt intervention.

Mbalula said the old system allowed corrupt practices of membership bulk buying and the flourishing of ghost branches.

“The development of the new membership platform is now complete, and data migration form the old system is also complete. Of the 1.3 million members, more than 600,000 of these are in good standing,” he said.

He added that members whose membership has expired had the opportunity to renew using the online membership portal.

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