Insiders reveal the frenzy as the African National Congress tightens timelines ahead of its pivotal National General Council, with eyes on the 2026 elections.
In the charged arena of South African politics, the African National Congress (ANC) stands at a crossroads. The party’s 5th National General Council (NGC), scheduled from December 8 to 12, 2025, at Nasrec in Johannesburg, promises to be a defining moment. Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has delivered a decisive order: all pending regional conferences must wrap up by December 3. This accelerated schedule, rooted in the ANC’s 2025 conference roadmap, has ignited urgency across branches, as they navigate disputes, verification challenges, and the looming pressures of the 2026 local government elections.
The Roadmap: Urgency for Organizational Revival
The NGC functions as an essential midpoint evaluation, scrutinizing advancements on commitments from the 2022 National Conference and steering the party’s path toward rejuvenation. Distinct from leadership elections or policy adoptions, it mirrors internal dynamics and tactical adjustments. This edition arrives amid the ANC’s stark 2024 election setback, where it forfeited its parliamentary majority, ushering in the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Mbalula’s directives, sent in late November 2025, highlight the pressing need. A letter to Eastern Cape provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi required regions such as Dr WB Rubusana, Sarah Baartman, and Amathole to finalize their elective gatherings by December 3, promoting “organizational stability and seamless NGC preparations.” Comparable instructions reached Gauteng’s Greater Johannesburg and Tshwane areas, squeezing Johannesburg’s overdue assembly—initially planned for June—into a midweek window mere days before the NGC. Non-compliance could delay these regions’ post-NGC arrangements, muting their influence at this crucial assembly.
Party observers suggest this haste is deliberate. The NEC-endorsed roadmap earlier in 2025 seeks to synchronize efforts and instill order per Rule 25 of the ANC constitution, which addresses disciplinary measures. “It’s a call to unify before the spotlight,” shared an anonymous Gauteng branch leader. “We’ve lagged on audits and nominations—now it’s critical.” Branches need at least 100 verified members for NGC delegate status, propelling many to overcome enrollment barriers, reminiscent of KwaZulu-Natal’s struggles where numerous branches missed thresholds.
This push extends beyond logistics, weaving in broader renewal efforts. Across provinces, structures are accelerating branch audits and membership drives to bolster representation. In the Free State, for instance, regional task teams have intensified verification processes, ensuring only compliant branches contribute delegates. Such measures, while straining resources, aim to fortify the party’s base against electoral vulnerabilities exposed in 2024.
Branch Struggles: Scandals and Internal Clashes
The rush transcends planning—it’s entangled with controversy. Johannesburg’s conference drive intersects with emerging bribery accusations unsettling Gauteng’s framework. Whispers of delegates receiving inducements to influence nominations have drawn Mbalula’s firm response. “This exposes the ANC’s fragility,” a seasoned member remarked to IOL, noting how such claims undermine credibility as the NGC calls for solidarity.
Eastern Cape outposts bear similar strains. Buffalo City’s Dr WB Rubusana region, steeped in turbulent municipal dynamics, grapples with claims of provincial influencers like chair Oscar Mabuyane positioning for extended tenure. Provincial secretary Ngcukayitobi is said to be gearing for contention, transforming the December 3 cutoff into a surrogate arena. “Branches are squeezed in the fray,” sighed a community coordinator. “We’re rushing verifications, yet factions maneuver in secrecy.”
Gauteng’s narrative mirrors the disorder. Greater Johannesburg’s event, postponed from February to June intentions, now erupts amid rumors of NEC figures like Khumbudzo Ntshavheni shaping results. Tshwane’s concurrent effort, slated for December 3-5, courts parallel interruptions, with locals protesting curtailed community voices. Province-wide, from KwaZulu-Natal’s PGC in Durban—where just over 100 delegates cleared amid 900 branches—to Limpopo’s Bolivia Lodge sessions, the atmosphere pulses with expedited alignment. In the North West, similar deadlines have sparked overnight membership campaigns, blending hope with exhaustion among activists.
These tensions reveal deeper fissures. Bribery probes in Johannesburg, for example, involve cross-accusations between factions backing chair Dada Morero and challenger Bandile Masuku, turning the conference into a proxy for power. Eastern Cape’s dynamics, fueled by Mabuyane’s rumored third-term bid, have led to whispers of gatekeeping and ineligible nominations, echoing nationwide calls for stricter vetting under the party’s renewal drive.
NGC Focus: Renewal, GNU Challenges, and Future Directions
While branches mobilize, the NGC commands attention. Mbalula, speaking to journalists after the NEC lekgotla on December 1, spotlighted renewal and moral governance as foundations. The lineup encompasses thorough reviews of 2022 resolutions, GNU administration efficacy, and economic rebuilding. “We’re probing advances on joblessness, disparities, and destitution—the core crises,” Mbalula declared, alongside spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri.
Under the surface, rivalries bubble. NEC suggestions for rigorous accountability and voting overhauls target vulnerabilities before 2027’s national elective congress. Western Cape’s restructured PECs tackle gangsterism and vote slumps, supplying insights on security and provisions. KwaZulu-Natal’s PGC over November 29-30 unpacked GPU functions, hinting at partnership unease.
Attendees will reexamine fiscal frameworks: pressing the Reserve Bank for employment emphasis, expanding Black Economic Empowerment to diverse groups, and reviving basic income proposals with massive infrastructure initiatives. Amid GNU frictions—like ideological rifts with DA allies—the NGC might fine-tune the ANC’s equilibrium between bold transformation and practical rule. Discussions could extend to bolstering state-owned enterprises, critiquing privatization trends, and integrating youth into economic plans, drawing from branch inputs gathered in pre-NGC forums.
Renewal threads through every session, with proposals for mandatory political education and ethical audits. The NGC’s base document, circulated earlier, urges a “capable cadre” to combat corruption, reflecting lessons from 2024’s losses. Provinces like Limpopo, fresh from regional conferences, contribute reports on governance, emphasizing unity against factionalism.
2026 Polls: Blueprinting Resilience
The ultimate wager? The 2026 municipal contests, where the ANC courts deeper retreats. After 2024, forecasts dip to a mere 30% national tally sans revival. Gauteng’s slide from 50% to 35% and KwaZulu-Natal’s from 54% to 17% signal danger. Thus, the NGC’s preliminary talks: a framework for nominations prioritizing “moral, skilled, community-oriented leaders.”
NEC-vetted criteria demand baseline credentials, solid progressive histories, and grassroots scrutiny—a benchmark for frameworks. Electoral committee head Kgalema Motlanthe affirmed: “It’s about deploying top talent for councilors, executives, and overseers.” Branches now synchronize picks with this standard, leveraging the NGC to galvanize a cohesive drive: recapturing hubs like Johannesburg and eThekwini via delivery triumphs and graft crackdowns.
Obstacles linger. COSATU‘s alliance hesitancy, SACP‘s autonomy lean, and emergent forces like Floyd Shivambu’s AMM challenge dominance. NGC dialogues might craft audacious moves—infrastructure alliances or youth employment forums—to rebut rival stories. As a source noted: “December 3 marks not an end, but the launch of 2026 endurance.”
Candidate selection emerges as pivotal, with new guidelines mandating qualifications like matriculation and clean records. Metro mayoral picks now fall to national officials, curbing provincial meddling. Branches must vet nominees rigorously, incorporating community feedback to ensure accountability. This overhaul, approved by the NEC, targets past errors where unqualified leaders fueled service failures.
Projections warn of urban losses, with opposition eyeing metros. The ANC’s strategy hinges on door-to-door campaigns, highlighting GNU gains like infrastructure rollouts, while addressing grievances head-on. Alliances with progressive groups could amplify reach, but internal cohesion remains key to avoiding vote splits.
Cohesion or Division? Navigating Ahead
For outposts, the December 3 sprint is a trial by ordeal, compelling reflection in turmoil. Triumph might steady the NGC, birthing a guide for electoral resurgence. Shortfall? Widening splits, muted inputs, and a 2026 plan on shaky ground. As Mbalula summons ranks, the query persists: Will grassroots rise to the test, or will rivalries shatter the liberation legacy? The coming days will reveal.
At this turning point, the ANC’s fortitude faces scrutiny—not solely in venues, but in the resolve of hustling branches countrywide. The NGC approaches, a forge for revival, poised to mold South Africa’s governance trajectory. Beyond immediate deadlines, it offers a chance to reaffirm commitments to equity, probing GNU’s collaborative model against transformative ideals. Delegates from diverse regions, from urban Gauteng to rural Eastern Cape, carry stories of struggle and aspiration, enriching debates on policy and ethics. If harnessed, this could propel a narrative of accountability, where renewal translates to tangible community gains, setting the stage for a robust 2026 campaign.
Ultimately, the NGC transcends internal mechanics; it’s a public pledge to voters disillusioned by past lapses. By addressing unemployment through targeted skills programs, tackling inequality via inclusive growth, and combating poverty with social safety nets, the ANC can rebuild trust. The branches’ current scramble, though chaotic, underscores a deeper zeal—a determination to evolve from 2024’s humbling to 2026’s redemption. As South Africa watches, the party’s ability to unite around people-centered goals will define not just its survival, but its soul.