Cape Town – The African National Congress (ANC) has defended its decision to involve veteran party members in rebuilding its structures in Gauteng after a disappointing election performance in 2024.
Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula announced leadership changes on Wednesday, appointing former Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo to co-lead alongside Panyaza Lesufi, and reinstating former provincial secretary Hope Papo as coordinator of a new provincial task team.
Mbalula emphasised that the party’s electoral decline highlighted the need for experienced leaders to strengthen its Gauteng structure, stating that the national executive committee aims to blend experience with new energy.
“Our leadership has endorsed comrade Panyaza to work with a veteran of the ANC, comrade Masondo, who will be focusing on organisational issues. We know that they will complement each other.”
[WATCH] The ANC is the only political party that has veterans, and it must not come as a surprise that we from time to time engage them for their guidance and wisdom. #ThePeoplesMovement#ANCAtWork pic.twitter.com/SO9Qt2fKr8
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) February 26, 2025
“We are the only party that has got veterans in this country… The African National Congress, given its history – 113 years. That’s where you get experience.
We not looking at them to run at the same pace as we do but we going to rely on them to succeed, to guide, to be the final word, to be a point of call,” Mbalula said.
He expressed confidence in the capabilities of the newly appointed team.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@MbalulaFikile
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
