Gauteng (ANC) Provincial Chairperson
By Thabo Mosia
Gauteng African National Congress (ANC) Provincial Chairperson, Panyaza Lesufi, has reaffirmed the province’s acceptance of the ANC National Executive Committee’s (NEC) intervention while firmly stating, “Some want us removed, but we are not going anywhere.”
Lesufi was addressing thousands of ANC supporters at the party’s 113th-anniversary celebrations held at Alexandra Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday. The rally came as the ANC in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal awaited a decision from Luthuli House on how the much-anticipated reconfiguration process would unfold.
ANC NEC’s Intervention in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal
In December 2024, the ANC NEC announced the reconfiguration of its structures in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, two provinces that performed poorly in the May 2024 general elections. Gauteng, traditionally a stronghold of the ANC, secured only 35% of the vote, while KwaZulu-Natal dropped to 17%.
The NEC’s intervention aims to revamp the Provincial Executive Committees (PECs) and ensure the party regains lost ground ahead of the 2026 local government elections. Some party members had called for the dissolution of the two PECs, but after intense internal debates, the NEC opted for reconfiguration instead of disbandment.
Lesufi: “We Will Defend the ANC with Everything We Have”
While welcoming the NEC’s intervention, Lesufi made it clear that the Gauteng ANC will not be forced out by external forces.
“This ANC is ours, and this ANC belongs to our people. No one will take over the African National Congress. We will defend this ANC with whatever we have in our powers and whatever structures we have because no one must control the ANC outside the structures of the African National Congress.”His remarks come amid growing tensions within the party, with some ANC members in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal defying the NEC’s directives. Lesufi warned those who were actively working against the party’s unity, stating that the ANC in Gauteng remains strong and united despite efforts to weaken it.
“We know there are those who thought this rally would fail because they have written the ANC’s ‘death certificate.’ But look around you—we are here in our thousands. The ANC is alive, and the ANC leads,” said Lesufi, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.Internal Divisions and Resistance to NEC Intervention
Lesufi acknowledged that some PEC members had stopped attending meetings, ignored their deployments, and even failed to show up for the ANC’s January 8 Statement—the party’s annual speech marking its founding anniversary.
He accused them of hoping for the removal of the current leadership, saying:
“They are crossing their fingers that all of us must be removed … but it does not work that way. We must work together at all times and be guided by our national leadership.”His comments reflect the internal struggles within the party, where some factions are resisting the NEC’s directives in an attempt to secure their own positions.
“Comrades, all of us here must commit ourselves to the renewal agenda. All of us here belong to the ANC. All of us here must send one strong message that ‘Asiyindawo’ (We are not going anywhere). Even those who hate us in the ANC, you can do whatever you want, but ‘Asiyindawo!’ You will find us here, and we will defend the ANC.”ANC Branches Rally Behind Lesufi and PEC
Despite internal challenges, Lesufi expressed gratitude to the ANC branches across Gauteng for standing by the leadership during a time when many had written off the provincial ANC.
“When other people had written the death certificate of the ANC in Gauteng, you stood firm. You stood up to defend us so that the ANC still exists in this province,” he said.His comments were met with thunderous applause from ANC members, including representatives from the ANC Women’s League, the ANC Youth League, and alliance partners such as COSATU and the SACP.
Reconfiguration Process to Continue Under NEC Leadership
Gauteng ANC Provincial Secretary TK Nciza assured members that the PEC would comply with the NEC’s decisions.
“We will give our national leadership the space to finalise the reconfiguration process. Our task as the PEC is to ensure that the ANC remains strong in Gauteng and that we implement the renewal agenda,” Nciza said.Lesufi also emphasised that the ANC in Gauteng acknowledges the mistakes made in the 2024 elections and has already engaged with the NEC to rectify them.
“We spent three days with our national leadership assessing the province’s election results, and we agreed that we did not achieve our goals. But we also agreed that we must receive support to strengthen the ANC in our province,” he said.
“When a mother or father reprimands a child, all of us must listen. Leadership, your intervention is welcomed, and we are going to support your intervention.”Challenges Facing the ANC in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal
The ANC’s declining support in urban provinces like Gauteng and historically strong provinces like KwaZulu-Natal has sparked serious concerns within the party. Analysts have cited several reasons for this decline:
1. Service delivery failures – Many voters have lost confidence in the ANC-led government’s ability to provide basic services, leading to disillusionment.
2. Rising unemployment – The economic crisis has left millions of youth jobless, with many blaming the ANC government.
3. Internal divisions – The infighting and factional battles within the ANC have weakened the party’s image and credibility.
4. The rise of opposition parties – New political formations like the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have capitalised on voter frustration, drawing support away from the ANC.
5. Coalition instability – The ANC’s coalition governments in some Gauteng metros, such as Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, have been plagued by instability and leadership disputes.
NEC’s Next Steps and Future of the Reconfiguration
The NEC’s reconfiguration strategy aims to address these challenges and restore confidence in the party before the next elections.
What the NEC’s Intervention Means:
• Changes in leadership structures – Some provincial leaders may be reshuffled or replaced to align with the party’s renewal agenda.
• Stronger election strategies – The ANC is expected to intensify its groundwork to regain lost voters.
• Unity-building efforts – The party leadership will crack down on divisions to ensure a cohesive election campaign in 2026.
Lesufi and his team will now await further instructions from the NEC, but his defiant stance suggests that Gauteng’s ANC leadership will not be easily removed.
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