Thabo Mbeki Steps Up to Guide ANC Renewal in KwaZulu-Natal with Key Political School Session

Former African National Congress (ANC) president Thabo Mbeki is gearing up to take the helm of a crucial political school class for the party’s structures in KwaZulu-Natal this weekend. This move comes as the ANC pushes forward with its renewal and rebuilding efforts, aiming to fix deep-seated issues that have eroded its support in the province. Set against a backdrop of recent election setbacks, Mbeki’s involvement signals a fresh push to rebuild trust and strengthen the party’s grassroots base. As a respected elder statesman, his leadership in this session is expected to offer valuable lessons on how the ANC can reconnect with voters and reclaim its role as a force for change.

This weekend’s gathering marks Mbeki’s first direct engagement with the KZN teams since the party’s national leaders shook up the provincial structures in February 2025. With the ANC now in opposition in KZN after losing its majority, the focus is on learning from past mistakes and charting a path back to power. Party members hope Mbeki’s insights will light the way forward, especially as branches gear up for important leadership elections later this year.

Background: ANC’s Reconfiguration and Election Struggles in KZN

The ANC’s decision to bring in Mbeki stems from a tough period for the party in KwaZulu-Natal, once a stronghold but now a battleground. In February 2025, the National Executive Committee (NEC) stepped in to reconfigure the provincial executive after the ANC’s dismal performance in the 2024 national and provincial elections. The party slipped to just 17% of the vote in KZN, a sharp drop from its glory days, allowing the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party to surge ahead with 45% and form a government with the IFP and DA. This came on the heels of losses in the 2021 local government polls, where the ANC also failed to hold onto key metros like eThekwini.

The reconfiguration involved dissolving the old provincial executive and installing a Provincial Task Team (PTT) to steady the ship. Regional structures were also revamped to address infighting, poor service delivery, and a loss of public faith. Analysts point to factors like corruption scandals, economic woes, and competition from breakaway groups as reasons for the decline. Unemployment in KZN sits at over 40%, with youth joblessness even higher, fuelling voter anger. The ANC’s national renewal programme, launched after the 2022 conference, aims to tackle these by rooting out bad elements and refocusing on people’s needs.

Mbeki, who served as ANC president from 1997 to 2007 and South Africa’s president from 1999 to 2008, brings a wealth of experience. Known for his intellectual approach and African Renaissance vision, he has often criticised the party’s drift from its core values. His role here is to provide strategic guidance on rebuilding structures, from branches to regions, to make the ANC more responsive and united.

Details of the Political School: A Two-Day Deep Dive into Renewal

The session, organised by the ANC KZN PTT, will run over two days this weekend, starting on Saturday, 27 September 2025. It is designed to deepen political education, sharpen debates on key ideas, and build a stronger ideological foundation—all key parts of the ANC’s broader renewal agenda. Mbeki will be the main presenter, sharing his thoughts on how to strengthen the party’s grassroots and win back public trust.

Party insiders say the school will cover topics like ethical leadership, community engagement, and strategies to counter rivals. This fits into the ANC’s push for ongoing political education, which has seen similar sessions in other provinces. In KZN, the focus is urgent: The province has over 1,000 branches, many weakened by factionalism. Mbeki’s sessions could include lessons from history, like the ANC’s liberation struggle, and how to apply them today.

Provincial spokesperson Fanele Sibisi highlighted the importance of the event: “This critical engagement will provide ANC members and leaders with clear guidance on what must be done to regain the trust of the people and to ensure that the ANC once again stands as a trusted force rooted in people’s power.” Sibisi added that Mbeki’s wisdom as a seasoned leader makes him the perfect fit to inspire change.

Broader Context: ANC’s Renewal Drive and Challenges Ahead

The ANC’s renewal programme is not new—it kicked off after the 2017 Nasrec conference amid calls to clean up after the state capture era. Under President Cyril Ramaphosa, it has included steps like the step-aside rule for implicated members and efforts to improve governance. In KZN, renewal means addressing local gripes like water shortages, potholed roads, and crime, which drove voters away.

The party lost big in 2024, dropping from 54% provincially in 2019 to just 17%, with MK Party capitalising on Jacob Zuma’s popularity. This left the ANC out of power in KZN for the first time since 1994, forcing it into opposition. Nationally, the ANC formed a Government of National Unity (GNU) with the DA and others, but in KZN, it’s focusing on rebuilding from the ground up.

Mbeki’s involvement adds weight. He has been vocal on ANC issues, recently warning about the dangers of coalitions and the need for ideological clarity. His African Renaissance ideas could help the party appeal to younger voters disillusioned with slow progress on jobs and land reform.

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