The African National Congress's (ANC) electoral support is rapidly declining, and its prospects do not look good ahead of the November 4 local government elections. The party's embattled Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, and his team recently made a critical mistake by failing to register 181 ANC candidates with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) before the closing date. This error has added to the misery of the imploding ANC.
Mbalula's tenure as the SG of the ANC has coincided with major setbacks for South Africa's dominant governing political party. These setbacks include the exit of its charismatic former president, Jacob Zuma, from the ANC to form the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK Party); the ANC's shocking loss of its outright majority in the national legislature and in three provincial governments after the 2024 elections; and the failure to pay its staff wages.
The ANC's failure to meet the IEC's August 28 deadline to submit its list of candidates for the local government elections was a significant faux pas. The party's secretariat consists of two deputies, first deputy secretary Nomvula Mokonyane and second deputy secretary Moropene Ramokgopa, which raises questions about the justification for having two deputy SGs after the registration fiasco.
Mbalula has risen through the ranks of the ANC and is no lightweight in its politics. He has served as Minister of Police and Minister of Transport and has been a National Executive Committee (NEC) member. However, his recent incompetence has raised concerns about the ANC's ability to produce and elect good leaders in recent decades.
The ANC approached the Electoral Court to challenge the IEC's decision to reject 181 of the candidate nominations, but the court dismissed the party's appeal. The ANC argues that it met the August 28 deadline to submit candidates on the IEC's Online Candidate Nomination System, citing "technical failures" or glitches that allegedly blocked final confirmation of the 181 nominations.
The ANC's problems are multiplying, with Andile Lungisa, a former ANC Youth League leader and Mbalula's old friend, taking him to court for allegedly removing Lungisa from the list of candidates for mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay. Eastern Cape's provincial secretary of the ANC, Lulama Ngcukayitobi, is also upset with Mbalula, blaming him for the mistake that led to the disqualification of some ANC candidates.
As the SG of the ANC, Mbalula occupies the most powerful position within the organisation, responsible for coordinating daily operations, communication, and dissemination of information. With Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy, Paul Mashatile, busy running the country, Mbalula is running the engine of Luthuli House, the ANC's headquarters, on a day-to-day basis, making him accountable for the party's operational matters.
Key points
- The ANC's electoral support is declining rapidly ahead of the local government elections due to the party's internal turmoil and mistakes.
- Fikile Mbalula's tenure as SG has coincided with major setbacks for the ANC, including the exit of Jacob Zuma and the party's loss of majority in the national legislature.
- The ANC's failure to register 181 candidates with the IEC has added to the party's misery, raising concerns about its ability to solve the country's problems.
