Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
28 February 2025 | 13:15 CAT
3-minute read

ANC Restructures in KZN and Gauteng

After the ANC structure was disbanded in KZN for its dismal performance in last year’s May elections, the party has since reconfigured and announced its new top six leaders, including stalwart and veteran Jeff Radebe as the provincial convenor. According to analysts, the decision to deploy the ANC stalwart and veteran to rebuild the province is a positive move.

Radebe, originally from KZN, has significant political experience in the province and holds a wealth of knowledge of ANC dynamics, particularly regarding the party’s historical non-racial character.

“It’s good for them to bring in the old guard. There were a whole range of questions being asked about the current guard, particularly in KZN. One questions that was being asked of the ANC in KZN was, ‘to what extent do they understand and embrace the non-racial character of the ANC historically? I think… Radebe will bring in that historical memory of the ANC,” Dr Imraan Buccus opined in this week’s ASRI Report on Radio Islam International.

In a similar move, Amos Masondo has taken over ANC provincial leadership in Gauteng. Masondo served as the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces from 2019 to 2024 and as the executive mayor of Johannesburg between December 2000 and 2011. According to analysts, Masondo is well-suited to recovering electoral ground lost to opposition parties.

“I think it will serve both provinces well to have that old guard to shepherd the ANC forward,” Dr Buccus said.

ANC’s Internal Stability and Factional Politics

The restructuring effort is also a response to the ANC’s internal fragmentation in both provinces. Dr Buccus highlighted that factional politics and access to public resources have been significant contributors to instability within the party. He pointed out that key figures like Mdumiseni Ntuli have been sidelined, which could further impact cohesion within the KZN branch.

The retention of leaders like Panyaza Lesufi in Gauteng and Siboniso Duma in KZN suggests an attempt to balance factional interests. According to Dr Buccus, this move reflects a strategic effort to manage corruption within the party while ensuring key figures remain within ANC structures rather than defecting to rival political movements.

Electoral Challenges and Prospects

The ANC’s decline in KZN has been particularly dramatic, dropping to just 17% of the vote. Once a stronghold of the party, the province has seen a shift in support towards opposition parties such as the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), particularly among the Indian community. Dr Buccus attributed this decline to governance failures, including issues with electricity, water, and sanitation, which have left citizens disillusioned.

He expressed scepticism about whether the current interventions would be sufficient to reverse the ANC’s electoral fortunes. “The party is 30, 31 years old, and the aura of liberation is wearing out,” he remarked, pointing out that younger voters are more concerned with tangible governance issues than historical loyalty to the party.

The Rise and Unraveling of MK in KZN

The emergence of the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party in KZN, led by former president Jacob Zuma, was a key factor in the ANC’s losses, with MK securing a staggering 45% of the vote in the province. However, Dr Buccas suggested that MK may not be a lasting political force.

He noted that internal conflicts, organisational struggles, and a lack of clear policy direction have contributed to MK’s stagnation. Recent by-elections indicate declining support for MK, with votes shifting towards the IFP and, to some extent, back to the ANC. “MK was a one-election party,” Dr Buccus asserted, emphasising that its success was closely tied to Zuma’s personal influence rather than sustainable political growth.

While the ANC’s restructuring efforts in KZN and Gauteng signal an acknowledgment of the party’s challenges, their effectiveness remains uncertain. With a declining grassroots presence, governance failures, and the rise of opposition parties, the ANC faces a tough road ahead in reclaiming lost ground. As South Africa moves towards the next election cycle, the party will need more than internal reshuffling to restore public confidence and political dominance.

Listen to the ASRI Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.