Cape Town – ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed concerns that breakaway factions could weaken the party, asserting that splinter groups like the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, founded by former President Jacob Zuma, will not destroy the ANC.
Speaking in Khayelitsha during the party’s January 8 statement on Saturday, Ramaphosa acknowledged that weak branches contributed to the party’s poor performance in the May 2024 elections, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.
He criticised splinter groups for their rhetoric, which he claimed undermines transformation efforts, but reaffirmed that the ANC remains in charge despite losing its majority and sharing power.
“They think they will weaken the ANC. They will never defeat the ANC. Some of these parties masquerade as more radical than the ANC, but their revolutionary sounding rhetoric cannot hide the reality that they have common cause with the forces opposing transformation,” EWN quoted Ramaphosa as saying.
The ANC Lives. The ANC Leads.
Molweni eKhayelitsha!#ANC113Anniversary pic.twitter.com/34cYmfCYPC
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) January 11, 2025
Ramaphosa reaffirmed the party’s dominance in state power despite facing challenges from breakaway factions and power-sharing agreements.
He said that the ANC remains in control, with the president and most ministers coming from its ranks, even under a government of national unity, IOL reported.
“The president of the country is ANC, the majority of government ministers are from the ANC, this means that we are still leading regardless of the electoral results.
“We are still moving forward even if we did not get 50%,” the report quoted Ramaphosa as saying.
He pledged the party’s commitment to addressing urgent issues, including boosting economic growth, improving service delivery, and renewing the ANC to regain public trust.
6 PRIORITY ACTIONS AND SPECIFIC TASKS FOR 2025
1. Decisive and visible action to renew the ANC.
2. Fix local government and ensure water and energy security.
3. Speed up inclusive economic growth to create jobs.
4. Strengthen the fight against crime and corruption and build… pic.twitter.com/uJYoHXIukd
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) January 11, 2025
He expressed confidence that the ANC would emerge stronger and independent in future elections.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
