Mbalula: ANC can still ‘bear fruit’ through service delivery
Speaking at a memorial event in Pretoria for anti-apartheid figure Solomon Mahlangu, African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula admitted that the party has faced severe setbacks, including falling voter support, corruption controversies, and declining influence in major urban centers. Nevertheless, he insisted the ANC remains resilient and can still deliver meaningful change for South Africans, describing the organization as a movement battered by “storms” yet far from broken.
Mbalula’s address comes at a critical juncture for the ANC. In the 2024 general election, the party lost its outright parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid, securing just over 40% of the national vote. This forced the ANC into a Government of National Unity and intensified questions about its ability to rebound ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
Focus on Service Delivery, Not Just Slogans
During Monday’s gathering, Mbalula attributed the ANC’s weakened state to both external pressures and internal shortcomings, including corruption and political complacency. Still, he expressed confidence that the party could “bear fruit again” for all South Africans. He stressed that the ANC’s credibility must be grounded in tangible service delivery and a “better life for all,” rather than relying on historical slogans alone.
Mbalula also highlighted the party’s past achievements in expanding access to electricity, sanitation, and workplace equality. However, he noted that persistent inequality between affluent suburbs and underdeveloped townships remains a major post-apartheid challenge.
Political Context and Outlook
The secretary-general’s remarks carry added weight given the ANC’s poor showing in the 2024 election. Political analyst André Duvenhage, cited in original reporting, observed that the ANC has grown increasingly reliant on rural voters and could face further losses in metropolitan areas where opposition parties are gaining ground.
In line with this assessment, the ANC is attempting to refocus on local governance issues ahead of the 2026 municipal polls. Mbalula told SABC News in February 2026 that the party was accelerating preparations for those elections, with an emphasis on basic services like sewage management and road repairs. News24 also reported in March that ANC branches had been instructed to begin selecting councillor candidates for the upcoming vote.
While no direct opposition responses to Mbalula’s Pretoria speech were included in the source material, his message signals a campaign strategy centered on recovery, improved service delivery, and the party’s liberation legacy. Whether this approach will resonate with voters likely hinges on concrete improvements in local government performance rather than political rhetoric alone.
