Media Statements

The African National Congress (ANC) convened its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting yesterday at a time when our movement and nation stand at a critical juncture in the journey of renewal, unity, and transformation. Guided by the historic resolutions of the 55th National Conference and the enduring vision of the Freedom Charter, the NWC deliberated on pressing organisational, national, and international matters with a singular focus, to strengthen the ANC as a disciplined force of the left, rooted among the  eople, and to ensure that the Government of National Unity delivers tangible change to the lives of South Africans.

The meeting affirmed that the ANC remains the strategic centre of power in advancing the National Democratic Revolution, deepening democracy, and building a just, inclusive, and developmental state.

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

We will convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting from November 14 to 17, 2025, during Disability Rights Awareness Month. This meeting will assess the ongoing work to build unity, rebuild organisational structures, and strengthen the movement’s capacity to lead society.

The NEC will also assess the domestic and global balance of forces, reflecting on South Africa’s strategic posture as we move towards the 5th National General Council (NGC). These discussions will be rooted in the ANC’s strategic objective of constructing a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous society, as enshrined in the Freedom Charter and reaffirmed in successive National Conference resolutions.

ENGAGEMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES

The ANC commends the recent engagement of political parties led by President Cyril Ramaphosa. This strategic retreat of the GNU Political Leaders Forum resulted in an agreement on a Medium-Term Development Plan. This marks an important step in resetting and consolidating the Government of National Unity (GNU), ensuring that it continues to embody the spirit and letter of the Statement of Intent signed by all participating parties.

The ANC reaffirms that the GNU must be a people-centred instrument for transformation, stability, and service delivery. Through consensus-based governance, we will strengthen cooperation and accelerate the implementation of key policy priorities, particularly those advancing economic inclusion, social justice, and national renewal.The NWC noted the recent attempt by the Democratic Alliance to undermine the gains of our struggle, an attempt aimed at rolling back over 300 years of subjugation of our people. This demand to scrap BB-BEE by the DA is another indication of their pain when they witness the development and transformation of black people, (African, coloured and Indians). We will not relent until the legacy of colonialism and apartheid is erased in the economy, employment and social dynamic. We will not capitulate, but the dignity of our people remains the centre of our daily prosecution of our struggle.

BROAD MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

The NWC reflected on the broad macroeconomic environment within which the upcoming Medium Term Budget Policy Statement will be tabled by the Minister of Finance, tomorrow. The NWC noted that the importance of the MTBPS lies in reflecting on the state of the economy since the Budget Speech earlier in the year, enabling the government to determine whether its key assumptions about the direction of the economy and public finances remain valid.

Accordingly, at a macro level, the NWC observed that the economy has shown signs of resilience against global challenges and has even registered positive performance in our trade balance. In the view of the NWC, all these positive macroeconomic indicators have arrived at the right time to help the government fulfil its spending commitments with the aid of improved tax collection.

In this context, the NWC is confident that the government will sustain priority spending on public infrastructure and employment-creating growth initiatives, as well as eliminate wasteful expenditure.

The NWC believes that the MTBPS will sustain momentum on GNU priorities as outlined in the Statement of Intent and the ANC’s 10 priority interventions for the economy announced after the ANC’s NEC meeting in October this year, which aimed at, amongst others, to fast-track large-scale investment in the country’s electricity transmission grid, strengthen the capacity of the state to manage major projects, promote township and rural economies and use development finance institutions to support the growth of SMME’s.

Infrastructure spending on water, roads, rail, ports and electricity is key to lifting the rate of growth and creating jobs. The NWC reaffirmed the good work done to date in stabilising the performance of our critical SOEs, which is a vital pillar of deepening economic growth and raising investment in job creation across the broader economy. Recent performance data for Eskom, PRASA and Transnet have all demonstrated improvement in efficiencies and financial management. However, more work still needs to be done to get these entities back to full strength.

NATIONAL DIALOGUE

The ANC welcomes the National Dialogue as an important step towards deepening democratic participation and nation-building. South Africans have demonstrated a clear readiness for meaningful engagement on the challenges confronting our nation.

The ANC believes that such dialogue must strengthen social compacts across all sectors and reaffirm the constitutional values of equality, justice, and non-racialism. Our structures and members will participate actively, guided by the ANC’s historic mission of unity and transformation.

2MUNICIPAL RECONFIGURATION

The NWC endorsed the reconfiguration of municipalities in the Free State province as part of implementing the Local Government Action Plan (LGAP). In the Free State Province we have intervened in Lejweleputswa, Letsemeng, Mafube, Masilonyana, Moqhaka, Nala and Nketoane. This is aligned with the ANC’s commitment to strengthening local governance, improving service delivery, and ensuring accountability to communities.

The ANC continues to prioritise ethical leadership, capacity building, and stability in local government as essential to advancing the District Development Model (DDM) and fulfilling the constitutional mandate of developmental governance. In the coming weeks, we will see changes in some of the municipalities in the Free State and we will hasten the process of the appointment of the replacements. We will reconfigure the Troika in certain municipalities in the Free State. We have also intervened in the North West province, mainly in Ditsobotla and Taung Local Municipalities. The Mayor of Taung will be recalled, this is a matter that is currently being implemented.

NATIONAL GENERAL COUNCIL

The 5th National General Council (NGC) will be held from 8th to 12th of December 2025 at NASREC, in Gauteng under the theme, “The Year of Renewal: Making the ANC a More Effective Instrument of the People to Achieve the Vision of the Freedom Charter.”

The NGC remains the second-highest decision-making body of the ANC between National Conferences and will focus on unity, renewal, and the transformation agenda. The delegate cut-off date was 30th September 2025, with participation limited to branches in good standing and within their constitutional terms of office.

The NGC will comprise 1,600 delegates which of 1,115 will come from provincial delegates and branches, and a breakdown of this is now being communicated to the structures and branches that qualify to come to the NGC. The Draft Programme of the NGC is finalised, and the NGC documents have been distributed to all organs of the organisation, including public representatives, to ensure a comprehensive and evidence-based assessment of progress. This was coupled with Provincial and Regional General Councils that have been convened to engage with the NGC base document, which is ensuring that the discussions  at NGC are enriched.

Additionally, the NGC Base Document has been published for public engagement, encouraging open dialogue and the broadest participation from our movement and society. Logistical preparations are well underway.

JANUARY 8 AND THE 114TH ANNIVERSARY

The ANC will gather and celebrate the 114th Anniversary in Moruleng Stadium in the Bojanala Region of the North West Province. Our 114th Anniversary in the province of Sol Platjie, Ngaka Modiri Molema, Moses Kotane and Mama Ruth Mompati will be a springboard to our 2026 Local Government Elections as we march towards a decisive victory. Disciplined organising and mobilisation is underway across the North West Province, and our structures across the country will join us in the North West Province.

3Reconfiguration of the Western Cape

The NWC announced earlier this month the reconfiguration of the Western Cape Provincial Executive Committee as mandated by the NEC. Subsequent to the announcement, Cde Rasool requested to be recused from the PTT due to a new important assignment in terms of global work and Comrade Jerimia Thuynsma was appointed as the Provincial Convener of the Western Cape PTT, a task he duly accepted.

Comrade Jerimia, who hails from Mitchells Plain, is a long-standing activist and member of the ANC, having grown and led in the Cape Youth Congress, South African Youth Congress and the Youth League.

He is a former SACP Provincial Executive Committee member and a trade unionist who is well-grounded in the struggles of the people in the Western Cape. Comrade Jerimia served in the Cape Metro and was honoured as Alderman.

THE ALLIANCE

The ANC held a productive bilateral meeting with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), reaffirming our shared commitment to the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) as a collective programme of the Alliance.

Discussions centred on safeguarding and revitalising the Alliance, advancing decent work, worker rights, and social transformation. We agreed on the need to defend the working class and ensure that economic policy remains pro-poor, redistributive, and transformative in line with the ANC Economic Transformation Policy Framework.

Engagements with the South African Communist Party (SACP) are ongoing. We note the success of the SACP’s People’s Red Caravan in October under the theme “The People’s Movement for Self-Reliance and Sustainability.” The ANC will hold a bilateral meeting with the SACP before the NGC to strengthen ideological coherence and programmatic unity.

SPECIAL LEAVE- COMRADE SENZO MCHUNU

The NWC has resolved that Comrade Senzo Mchunu’s request for special leave from the activities of the National Executive Committee and the National Working Committee be granted.

The ANC Guidelines and Procedures: Implementation of National Conference Resolutions on ANC Credibility and Integrity: Dealing with Corruption and on Fighting Crime and Corruption were adopted by the National Executive Committee on 13th – 14th February 2021 and amended the Special National Executive Committee meeting on 24th

– 25th April 2022.

Paragraph 3.1.1 provides that: “A member, office-bearer, or public representative, who has been indicted to appear in a court of law on a charge of corruption or other serious crime must immediately step aside pending the finalisation of her or his case.”

Cde Mchunu has not been indicted to appear in a court of law on a charge of corruption or other serious crime. Accordingly, the specific provisions of paragraph 3.1.1 do not apply to him.

4However, this does not mean that he or any other member who is alleged to be involved in corrupt activities cannot voluntarily step aside or take special leave.

We welcome Comrade Senzo Mchunu’s emphasis that he understands “that people are feeling the trauma of crime and corruption in the country”.

GEO-POLITICS

South Africa will host the G20 Summit under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.” This milestone reflects our growing role in shaping the global development agenda through the principles of Ubuntu, our belief in shared humanity and mutual respect among nations.

The Summit will prioritise the development agenda of the Global South, focusing on combating inequality, ensuring food security, advancing climate justice, and promoting sustainable growth in Africa.

The ANC notes with concern the decision by the President of the United States not to participate in the G20 summit or other critical platforms such as COP30. He has based his reason for non-attendance at the G20 Summit on the misinformation campaigns alleging “genocide” in South Africa. These false claims, widely discredited by our government, civil society, and even sections of the Afrikaner community, form part of a deliberate disinformation drive aimed at sowing division and destabilisation.

The ANC reiterates its stance on non-alignment, multilateralism, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, in keeping with the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Freedom Charter’s call for peace and friendship among nations.

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ANGOLA’S INDEPENDENCE

The ANC congratulates the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the people of the Republic of Angola on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of their Independence, celebrated on 11 November 2025. Angola’s liberation stands as a beacon of African self-determination, solidarity, and the triumph of perseverance over colonial domination.

The bonds between the ANC and the MPLA were forged in the crucible of struggle, with Angola providing a home to many South African freedom fighters during the darkest days of apartheid. As we celebrate this milestone, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening Pan-African unity, South-South cooperation, and the pursuit of peace, stability, and development across the continent, in the true spirit of African Renaissance and Ubuntu diplomacy.

BIRTHDAY OF DR ESTHER MAHLANGU

The African National Congress joins the nation and the world in celebrating the remarkable life of Dr Esther Mahlangu, a global icon of African art and cultural heritage, on the occasion of her birthday. Dr Mahlangu’s work has not only elevated Ndebele visual traditions to international acclaim but also affirmed the ANC’s long-held belief in the power of culture as a weapon of liberation and social cohesion.

Her artistry symbolises the resilience, creativity, and dignity of African womanhood, embodying the spirit of the Freedom Charter’s call that “the doors of learning and culture shall be opened.” The ANC salutes 5Dr Mahlangu for her lifelong contribution to the preservation and global recognition of South Africa’s indigenous knowledge systems, and for inspiring generations to embrace their identity with pride.

CONDOLENCES

The ANC expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Comrade Moruti Maphatsoe, a veteran of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and our Gauteng Chaplain. Comrade Maphatsoe dedicated his life to the liberation struggle and continued to minister to our movement with compassion, dignity, and unwavering faith. We call on all members to ensure that he is laid to rest with the honour befitting his service to the people and the movement.

We also extend our heartfelt condolences to our National Spokesperson, Comrade Mahlengi Bhengu, on the passing of her beloved mother, uGogo Thelma Buyisiwe Bhengu. During this difficult time, the ANC stands in solidarity with Comrade Mahlengi and her family, praying for strength and comfort.

The ANC continues to uphold the value of Ubuntu, reminding all members that in mourning, we reaffirm our shared humanity and collective responsibility to support one another.

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