The African National Congress (ANC) has experienced a significant decline in electoral support, culminating in a 31% vote share in the 2026 local government elections, down from nearly 46% in the 2021 elections. This decline reflects a broader crisis of leadership that has lost the capacity to inspire society. The ANC's role in the struggle against apartheid and the establishment of democracy gave it considerable moral authority and public legitimacy, but its dwindling electoral performance signals a shift in its relationship with South African society.
The current generation of voters, increasingly young, assesses political parties based on their overall performance, contribution to society, and ability to offer practical solutions to the country's challenges. Unemployment, poverty, and inequality, alongside weaknesses in public services and limited economic opportunities, have fueled growing public dissatisfaction and eroded the public legitimacy that the ANC used to enjoy. Thirty-two years into democracy, freedom is seen, especially by young people, not to have translated into meaningful improvements in their daily lives.
A crisis of political leadership is a major factor behind the ANC's decline. Leaders must inspire society and articulate a compelling vision and profound ideas that respond to the changing social and economic realities of the 21st century. However, there appears to be a growing inability among sections of the ANC leadership to provide intellectual direction, ethical example, and practical leadership. South Africans need leaders with intellectual depth, ethical conviction, and practical leadership abilities, who are relatable and able to inspire confidence and mobilize society around common objectives.
The ANC's branch-level political processes and the competencies required for national leadership are also a concern. Success in branch politics and securing a majority in nominations does not automatically translate into the expertise, experience, and broad understanding required for leadership at the national level. Leaders at the National Executive Committee deal with complex policy formulation, institutional relationships, economic systems, and competing social interests, requiring analytical ability, strategic and systems thinking, and a broader comprehension of how the state and its institutions function coherently and systematically.
There is a need for honest and serious reflection on the quality of the ANC's rank and file, as members ultimately bear the responsibility for providing society with leaders at various levels. Society tends to be given leaders whose principal qualification is membership or mobilizing capacity rather than demonstrated competence and ethical standing. ANC membership should not be for everyone; it should be for those who demonstrate a deeper commitment to and a broad understanding of the values, principles, and constitutional obligations, as well as the ANC's political program.
The credibility of a political movement depends not only on the number of its members but also on their conduct and commitment to its principles. The ANC cannot afford to normalize the presence or protection of individuals involved in criminality, corruption, and political violence. A political organization with the history and ambitions of the ANC should maintain clear membership standards, supported by political education, ethical requirements, and effective disciplinary processes.
Ultimately, leadership should be measured by the ability to develop ideas, build institutions, solve problems, create opportunities, and improve people's lives. When political status becomes the strategic source of an individual's relevance, influence, and public value, the distinction between serving society and advancing personal interests becomes blurred. The ANC's "value add" – the contribution that its leaders make to society individually – is critical in assessing its leadership and its ability to govern effectively.
Key points
- The ANC's electoral decline reflects a broader crisis of leadership that has lost the capacity to inspire society.
- The current generation of voters assesses political parties based on their overall performance, contribution to society, and ability to offer practical solutions to the country's challenges.
- The ANC's leadership crisis is characterized by a growing inability to provide intellectual direction, ethical example, and practical leadership.
