The ANC’s newly appointed co-ordinators for Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal will forge different pathways to address the problems that have plagued their respective provinces after last year’s dismal election results.
The Sunday Times spoke to Gauteng’s Hope Papo and KZN’s Mike Mabuyakhulu about how they intend to turn around the party’s fortunes. Uppermost in their minds are the local government elections scheduled for next year in which the ANC is widely predicted to lose more ground, with losses in metros and municipalities virtually guaranteeing that coalitions will rule the day.
While the ANC’s constitution says interim structures may hold the fort for only nine months, the two leaders differ on whether that is enough time to bring about the changes needed for the ANC to claw back support and regain some metros.
We are going to do everything possible to ensure we take a better, healthier ANC to conference ... an ANC that will be ready to contest elections.
— Mike Mabuyakhulu
Mabuyakhulu — who had been touted for the job since last year — thinks nine months is enough time in which to build a foundation for course correction and to hold internal conferences, while Papo believes more time is needed for the provincial interim structure to make significant changes.
Mabuyakhulu said, “I have to be able to ensure we pull together a detailed analysis of the performance of our municipalities ... such does not mean we have to wait until we have completed that analysis [because] there are obvious interventions needed, so it’s going to be a simultaneous process.”
For Papo, nine months is the minimum time needed for the interim structures. He believes that only when branches are functioning, investment is booming and governance is working can the ANC even think about an elective conference.
Mabuyakhulu, however, is confident the provincial task team (PTT) can build a foundation that a newly elected structure can take to conference. He argues that he was able to execute this role previously when he and Sihle Zikalala were tasked with taking the province to the 2018 conference.
“I’m simply saying, yes, the task is mammoth and we are going to do everything possible to ensure we take a better, healthier ANC to conference ... an ANC that will be ready to contest elections. More than anything, we want to see an ANC that is embedded in the minds and hearts of the ordinary citizens of this province.”
The two leaders were roped in to save a party close to collapse after the 2024 elections. In KZN, the ANC faces a formidable Jacob Zuma-led MK Party which was mainly responsible for the ANC’s disastrous 17% election result.
In Gauteng, Papo will have to regain voter confidence with the decay of the province having been placed directly at the feet of the former majority party.
Key to both leaders is a dogmatic approach towards connecting with their communities. To the ANC’s newly appointed co-ordinators, enforcement of branch work towards a greater level of activism is fundamental to the ANC’s renewal and its ability to regain mass support.
In KZN, the programme of action has been crafted to include the restoration of public trust and credibility; strengthening unity and organisational stability; introducing new accountability mechanisms; reconnection with community and grass roots activism; social and economic transformation; and empowering future leaders and marginalised groups.
The work entails mandatory monthly reports by branch and regional leaders on work done to stabilise the party and reconnect with communities.
Papo believes that to put the organisation back on track, particularly at local level, branches must renew membership; undergo political education; focus on community work; and identify and drive at least two campaigns in the community before working towards regional and provincial conferences.
He adds that the creation of sub-branches will be integral to this work, with branches forming subcommittees on particular agendas geared towards their respective wards, which must be reflected at regional conferences.
“The conditions of a conference happening should be based on the majority of the branches in the region having undergone these three areas of work ... the timing will depend on whether branches have done the work,” Papo added.
Despite the work ahead, Mabuyakhulu believes the regions can hold successful conferences.
Both provincial leaders say they are mindful of defections but are quick to add that these will not derail their work.
Mabuyakhulu believes the Asiye Ekhaya campaign can help bring back lost leaders, including veterans who defected to the MK Party, while Papo says the task team will work towards regaining support from the middle and working strata.
Papo takes a hard-nosed approach towards factionalism, warning that any member of the task team “who displays negativity towards the task at hand” will be “removed”.
Mabuyakhulu takes a softer approach, urging the task team to focus on work.
“If we are driven by personal ambition then we must accept failure before we even begin,” he said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.