Cape Town – In the aftermath of the ANC’s loss of its majority in the 2024 elections, the party says it is prioritising the revival of its political standing over internal succession debates.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula emphasised the need to focus on revitalising the party rather than engaging in leadership debates prematurely.
He warned that anyone initiating succession talks would face severe repercussions, saying that such discussions would be suppressed until the appropriate time.
“We are saying we must not be diverted and that we are coming from a terrible, horrible and disastrous election campaign that gave us 40 percent and the first thing that we think about is who becomes the leader after President [Cyril] Ramaphosa it can’t be.
[WATCH] We are not going to have a succession conversation when we are supposed to be focused on the ANC program of action and build a strong organisation. #ANCNEC#LetsDoMoreTogether pic.twitter.com/2Nrjp8GEwq
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) August 1, 2024
That discussion we are going to suppress it to the moon and back till it happens at the right time not that it should not happen, we are not going to entertain it. We know that there are people who are whispering and we find them we are going to suppress it. You would have never seen suppression in your life in the ANC you will see it. It’s not important. The ANC is one foot in and one foot out, our pre-occupation cannot be who becomes the next leader,” Mbalula said.
Mbalula made these remarks on the sidelines of the ANC’s six-day national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
He expressed zero tolerance for members who divert attention to succession talks, asserting that the party’s priority is to rebuild and renew its structures.
“We are going to drive this organisation, revive our structures and branches. Those who wanted to leave have left. Others are already on their way back from the other party because they did not get what they wanted. But the people who were [a] pain in this organisation, who wanted to leave, have left. So we’ve got an opportunity to build an organisation, intensify renewal and build the organisation,” said Mbalula.
“It doesn’t mean there are no people who are whispering about 2027 but it cannot be the preoccupation. People must hold back and give a chance for the ANC to regroup and build a strong organisation.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
