Ahead of 2026 polls: ANC’s merit-based leadership shift faces backlash
The ANC
Image: IOL
KWAZULU-NATAL ANC members have warned the party against a proposal to look beyond the organisation for people to deploy into government roles, saying the move could trigger tensions at branch level. Some members demanded that, if pushed through, every leader of the party—from local government to national parliament—should be subjected to this rule.
The members, speaking on condition of anonymity as they are not authorised to speak to the media, were reacting to reports that the party is considering individuals from outside its membership for deployment to leadership positions. It was reported that, among the proposed changes, mayors of metros would no longer need to be drawn from regional leadership structures.
However, other party members said they believe the proposal could reignite excellence within the organisation. They argue the move is not controversial and is nothing new, as the party has done this previously.
In a recent interview, ANC Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane said the party has already started the process of looking beyond just members of its national, provincial, regional, and branch executive committees for public representatives.
“So we’re looking at everything, [and] going broader than just [considering] those who are the chair of the province, or the chair of the region, or the branch chair and branch secretary becoming the ward councillor. We have to look at what is required for this particular metro or this particular municipality,” Mokonyane stated.
She mentioned that the party would widen its search for mayoral candidates to include business leaders, strategic leaders from different sectors, women, and young people. She conceded this would not be an easy task, given that ANC members are also looking to fill the roles.
“The process will require objectivity and commitment to the voters, instead of just party members," according to the report.
An ANC member in the Midlands expressed discomfort with the proposal, saying, “We have not been canvassed on such a view; even at the national general council, I do not remember hearing that it was discussed there.
The first I saw of this was on social media. I believe that such action would be disruptive and cause tension in branches because we need someone who is part of the organisation and understands it to lead. If they apply this, it must apply to everyone, not just the leaders at lower levels; even the president must be subjected to this.
“We must be able to look outside; they cannot turn around and demand that the president of the party must come only from the ANC.”
Another ANC member was sceptical, stating, “I think we must stick to guidelines, not to people's perspectives. I don't think we should give general solutions to specific problems.”
An ANC leader in Durban expressed that this could be what the party needs to rebuild its performance and credibility.
“The people that will be deployed here will not be just anyone; they will be ANC members, even though they might be coming from outside the established structures,” said the leader, who acknowledged that the proposals might be very hard to sell to top members at branch level.
“The ANC is lacking an academic complement; that is what we are aiming to address with this move. It will not be the first time; the party has done this before and brought in people from outside who have performed outstandingly. This is something that we have to do if we are to get the municipalities to work again,” the leader added.
“Furthermore, this does not mean the leadership and branches will be frozen out; if they qualify for positions in the party, they will be appointed.”
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has tried this approach before. In the eThekwini Metro, the last two mayors were brought in from outside the regional leadership structures.
After the party decided to remove then-leader Zandile Gumede, she was replaced by Mxolisi Kaunda, who at the time was a member of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) and MEC for Transport. Kaunda was later replaced by Cyril Xaba, who also came from outside the regional structure.
In Msunduzi, the party appointed an outsider, Themba Njilo, a successful businessman and philanthropist. However, the experiment did not work in this case, and Njilo was eventually removed as mayor.
In a recent interview with The Mercury, Njilo described his time serving as mayor of Msunduzi as among the worst and most unproductive periods of his life.