Khumalo: Ramaphosa Using Renewal to Execute DA Agenda Within the ANC

In a hard-hitting opinion piece, Reverend Mo’hau Khumalo has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of turning the ANC’s renewal project into a tool for the Democratic Alliance (DA). Khumalo claims the so-called cleanup is not about fixing the ANC but about getting rid of strong black leaders based on DA attacks. He calls it a betrayal that weakens the party and hands it over to outside interests. This comes at a time when the ANC is dealing with internal fights and a new government setup after the elections. As South Africa marks Heritage Day, Khumalo’s words remind us of the ongoing battle to keep the liberation movement true to its roots, amid fears of losing its way.

Khumalo’s piece, shared widely on social media, has sparked debate among ANC supporters and critics. It points to a deeper split in the party, where some see renewal as a fresh start, while others view it as a way to push out rivals. With the ANC in a unity government with the DA, these claims add fuel to talks about who really calls the shots.

Renewal or Betrayal? Khumalo’s Take on ANC’s Cleanup

Khumalo pulls no punches in his writing. He says: “The so-called ANC Renewal Project has been packaged as a noble idea to cleanse the movement of corruption, factionalism, and rot. But the bitter truth — which few in the ANC dare to utter aloud — is that this project has never been an ANC project at all. It has always been, and continues to be, a Democratic Alliance (DA) project, executed with precision by Cyril Ramaphosa, who serves as the political hand behind the trigger.”

He argues that Ramaphosa uses DA claims to target ANC figures like Jacob Zuma, Ace Magashule, DD Mabuza, and others. “Every comrade who has been “renewed,” sacrificed, and betrayed under Ramaphosa’s leadership did not fall because of ANC processes, but because they were targeted and investigated under the DA’s script of delegitimizing black leadership,” Khumalo writes.

This view ties into wider talks about the ANC’s renewal drive, launched after the 2017 conference to fight graft and rebuild trust. But critics like Khumalo see it as a cover for settling scores, especially with Ramaphosa at the helm since 2018. The project aimed to root out bad apples, but some say it has hit hard on those who back radical change, like land reform and economic shifts.

Hit List and Future Targets: Who’s Next?

Khumalo warns the purge is not done. He lists more names in the firing line: Paul Mashatile, Panyaza Lesufi, Lebogang Maile, Nomvula Mokonyane, Supra Mahumapelo, Dakota Legoete, Mzwandile Masina, and others. “Their crime is simply that they do not belong to Ramaphosa’s neoliberal pack. They are obstacles to his mission of handing the ANC, and with it South Africa, over to colonial interests in the form of the DA and its Western sponsors,” he says.

Even close allies like Fikile Mbalula and Gwede Mantashe are not safe, Khumalo adds. “History teaches us that Ramaphosa’s smile is a mask, not a shield. They, too, will be betrayed when the time comes.”
This echoes past ANC splits, like the fallout after Zuma’s ousting in 2018 amid state capture claims. Many of those named by Khumalo backed Zuma or pushed for stronger black economic power, clashing with Ramaphosa’s market-friendly ways. The DA’s role in probes, like the Zondo Commission, has often been seen as ammo for internal ANC battles.

GNU and DA Influence: A Coalition of Betrayal?

Khumalo ties this to the Government of National Unity (GNU), calling it “a coalition of self-serving elites with no political will or capacity to govern.” He says renewal is really about making the ANC a “neutered liberal tool of colonial appeasement,” fitting the DA’s neoliberal dreams.

This view gains traction amid the ANC’s post-election deal with the DA and others, after losing its majority in May 2025. Critics fear the ANC is giving up its radical edge for power-sharing, with DA ministers in key spots like agriculture and basic education. Khumalo sees this as part of a plan to kill off “liberation voices” and African self-rule.

Social media reactions show a split: some back Khumalo for speaking truth, others call it sour grapes from Zuma loyalists. One post praised it as “eye-opening,” while another dismissed it as “old factional noise.”
Ramaphosa’s Renewal: Progress or Purge?

Ramaphosa has pushed renewal as key to fixing the ANC after years of graft scandals. At the 2022 conference, he vowed to clean house and rebuild. Steps like the step-aside rule have sidelined accused members, leading to exits like Magashule’s.

But Khumalo calls it a “poisoned chalice,” saying it’s about betrayal, not morality. “The Renewal Project is nothing but the DA Project. And Ramaphosa is its most loyal executioner.”

This debate rages as the ANC faces low polls and internal rifts. With the 2027 conference looming, renewal’s fate could decide the party’s path.

A Call to Wake Up on Heritage Day

Khumalo ends with a Heritage Day plea: “As we celebrate Heritage Day, we must pause and reflect: our black revolution is in crisis and under sustained attack.” He urges South Africans to see the renewal as DA-driven, aimed at taming the ANC.

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