Political Firestorm
Biksburg-In a fiery outburst that has stirred up South Africa’s political scene, the president of the African National Congress Youth League has taken aim at Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party. Collen Malatji did not hold back, branding the group a bunch of criminals and making it clear there is no room for them in the current government setup. His words come at a time when the ANC is looking inward at its big meeting, trying to fix past slips and plan for better days. For young people and families feeling the pinch of tough times, these clashes highlight how party fights can slow down real help on jobs, safety, and daily needs. As the country heads towards more votes in 2026, many wonder if unity or more splits lie ahead.
Malatji’s Blunt Attack on the MK Party
Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC’s 5th National General Council in Boksburg, Malatji laid into the MK Party without mercy. He called it a “party of criminals” and stressed that the ANC would never let them join the Government of National Unity. “The only party I would not want to be part of the GNU is MK. As long as we present our renewal project, MK is a party of criminals. We cannot even govern with them,” he said.
Malatji went further, linking the MK Party to shady dealings and poor choices. He pointed to recent claims about party members luring young South Africans to Russia under false promises, only for them to end up in danger. “The latest scandal of them sending people to Russia to use them as shields – those are people you cannot associate with,” he added. He reminded everyone that the MK Party was born from people kicked out of the ANC for wrongdoing. “The MK Party is formed by people we removed from the ANC for criminal activities. We cannot bring them back into government,” Malatji explained.
These strong words reflect the youth league’s push for a cleaner ANC. Malatji spoke about focusing on big youth problems like sky-high unemployment at 58.5%, gender-based violence, poverty, crime, and teenage pregnancy. He wants the ANC to declare unemployment a national disaster and rework the economy so Black people hold the reins. For him, teaming up with groups like MK would undo this work and drag the party back.
The Russia Scandal: A Key Trigger for the ‘Criminal’ Label
A big part of Malatji’s anger stems from a fresh scandal involving Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, Jacob Zuma’s daughter and a former MK Party MP. She stepped down from Parliament in late November 2025 after claims she tricked 17 South African men into going to Russia. They thought they were heading for scholarships or jobs, but ended up as fighters in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Court papers say Zuma-Sambudla handed the men over to a Russian mercenary group, forcing them into battle. Sadly, eight of them lost their lives. She now faces serious charges like people trafficking, helping foreign armies, and fraud. This mess links back to her past troubles, including court cases for stirring up violence during the 2021 July unrest that wrecked parts of the country.
The MK Party has distanced itself, saying it does not want a spot in the GNU anyway. But for Malatji and others in the ANC, this shows why MK cannot be trusted. It paints the party as one that puts people at risk for its own gains, far from the freedom fighter roots it claims. This scandal has sparked wider talks about how political groups should protect their supporters, not lead them into harm.
ANC’s Firm No to GNU Expansion
Malatji’s stand echoes a bigger ANC view: the Government of National Unity is fine as it is. Formed after the 2024 elections where the ANC dropped to 40% of the vote, the GNU brings together the ANC, Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, and a few smaller groups. It aims to steady the ship on jobs, power cuts, and growth.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula backed this up at the same meeting. He said there is no plan to grow the GNU, pointing to its wins like passing the midterm budget without hitches. “We have had no challenges in the GNU. We managed to pass the midterm budget. How can you say this does not show stability? There is no need to tamper with something that does not need tampering,” Mbalula stated.
Malatji did leave the door open for others, like the Economic Freedom Fighters, if they agree on clean rule and protecting the Constitution. But for MK, it is a hard no. This shows the ANC’s careful pick of partners, avoiding those tied to past wrongs or fresh scandals. It also highlights how the party is renewing itself, kicking out bad apples and focusing on delivery to win back trust.
Rising Tensions with Long-Time Ally SACP
The National General Council has also spotlighted cracks with the South African Communist Party, a key ANC partner for years. The SACP plans to run alone in the 2026 local elections, unhappy with the ANC’s tie-up with the DA in the GNU and slow progress on worker rights.
Malatji hit out at this move, saying if the SACP contests against the ANC, they cannot stay in the fold. “Well, the first thing is that the NGC says if you are contesting us, you cannot be with us. You cannot sit and strategise with us,” he said. He treated the SACP like rivals such as the DA or EFF, noting they challenge the National Democratic Revolution’s goals.
But not everyone agrees. ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe called the SACP’s solo run “political suicide” and said dual membership – where people belong to both groups – is still okay. “No, the NEC has not taken that decision. There is dual membership. Every individual will make a decision,” he clarified. ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa warned the SACP against going it alone, fearing it could split votes and weaken the left.
SACP leader Solly Mapaila stands firm, saying his party must step up where the ANC has fallen short. This rift could change how alliances work, with the ANC rethinking rules on members juggling loyalties. For workers and communities, it means more choices at the polls but also worry over divided efforts on big fixes like inequality.
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