ANC Warns Leadership Could Face Pressure After Local Elections

Why the November Vote Matters

The African National Congress is gearing up for the local government elections on 4 November. Party officials say the outcome will be a major test of its popularity after recent setbacks.

Past Election Results

In the 2021 local polls the ANC won 46.04 % of the vote – the first time it fell below 50 % in a national local election. Two years later, in the 2024 national elections, support slipped further to 40.18 %, costing the party its outright parliamentary majority that it had held since 1994.

What Mbalula Said

ANC secretary‑general Fikile Mbalula warned that another poor showing would raise serious questions about the current leadership. He told reporters:

“If you lose, it reflects on the leadership, and it will be said that in history our leadership has failed in two elections dismally.”

He added that the party’s future leadership contest in 2027 cannot be separated from how the ANC performs this year, summing it up with the phrase “there is no 2027 without 2026.”

Possible Leadership Battle

Calls for Change

Mbalula said rivals who want to lead the ANC could use a weak election result to argue that the current leaders should step aside. He warned that the internal debate could become intense:

“Those who want to lead the ANC are going to say this group has failed. They must go. I don’t even think we’ll reach December… there will be toy‑toying like you have never seen.”

Internal Debate

Despite acknowledging the risk, Mbalula stressed that the ANC is still working hard to win, not to prepare for defeat. He distinguished between members focused on victory and those merely analysing the party’s prospects from a political angle.

ANC’s Preparation and Legal Moves

Candidate Nomination Issues

The party is also fighting to have candidates affected by problems with its nomination process allowed to contest the elections. The ANC has approached the Electoral Court over candidates that the Electoral Commission of South Africa did not capture after the nomination deadline.

Court Challenge

Mbalula confirmed that the ANC has successfully registered 9,128 candidates. He said the party cannot accept a situation where its structures are blocked from participating and will take legal steps to protect its right to run.

Looking Ahead

Focus on Winning

While acknowledging possible consequences, Mbalula reiterated that the ANC’s priority is to secure victory in the November polls. He urged members to concentrate on campaigning rather than speculating about post‑election fallout.

Accountability After Vote

After the elections, the ANC leadership will have to explain its performance to party structures, just as it has done after previous major events such as the formation of the government of national unity. Mbalula said party members and structures will decide whether any setback points to a leadership problem.

Conclusion

The upcoming local government elections are more than a routine vote for the ANC; they could shape the party’s leadership future. A strong result might quiet internal critics, while another poor performance could spark a heated debate over who should lead the movement into 2027 and beyond. Regardless of the outcome, the ANC says it will answer to its members and let the structures judge whether the leadership has delivered.