JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) has been undergoing a process of reconstruction, at least seemingly, since the launch of its 2017 "renewal" program. Despite this commitment and the introduction of new faces into a National Executive Committee (NEC) that often appears divided, the ANC has continued to experience a decline in electoral support.
This erosion of popular backing has been attributed to numerous factors by both political analysts and ANC members.
However, none have been as damaging as the emergence of the uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) and its rapid electoral ascent.
While the NEC has pointed fingers at provincial structures for the party's dwindling fortunes, it is these very structures that have borne the brunt of the losses.
It was hardly surprising, then, when the ANC turned its gaze inward, targeting its provincial structures as the scapegoats for its declining support. This blame-shifting, however, is not the focus of this article—I have addressed that issue elsewhere. Instead, this piece aims to expose the true nature of the ANC's current "reconfiguration" efforts: a disbandment or, at the very least, a dissolution.
The ANC has dissolved its Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Provincial Executive Committees (PECs). This move has been labelled a "reconfiguration," a term that is neither part of the ANC's common political vocabulary nor defined in its Constitution.
The NEC's authority over PECs is explicitly outlined in Rule 12.2.4 of the ANC Constitution. This rule grants the NEC the power to "ensure that the Provincial, Regional, and Branch structures of the ANC and the Leagues function democratically and effectively." It further states that the NEC may suspend or dissolve a PEC if necessary. However, any suspension cannot exceed three months, and a dissolved PEC must be replaced through elections within nine months. During this period, the NEC is required to appoint an interim structure to carry out the PEC's functions.
A close reading of this rule makes it clear that the NEC cannot "reconfigure" an elected PEC without either suspending or dissolving it.
The reality is that the ANC NEC has shifted the blame for its electoral decline onto the KZN and Gauteng PECs. This is a strategic move—a Queen's Gambit, if you will. While it may appeal to the majority of the NEC, it reflects a leadership that views itself as infallible, refusing to acknowledge its own role in the party's dwindling support.
That said, it is crucial for the public and the media to stop indulging the ANC's linguistic gymnastics and call this move what it truly is: a disbandment.
The ANC has completely dismantled its provincial structures in Gauteng and KZN, replacing them with veteran leaders tasked with steering the ship. To what end? Only time will tell. However, one thing is certain: this decision will either yield significant gains or result in losses from which the party may never recover, particularly as it approaches the 2026 Local Government Elections.
by Nkateko Muloiwa
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