There is something radically wrong with the state of the ANC, the party’s head of elections, Mdumiseni Ntuli, said.
Ntuli said these shortcomings included among others the quality of leadership and membership of the party.
He also pointed out the ANC’s failure to fix the ailing economy due to the lack of strategic leadership required at local, provincial, and national government level in order for the economy to serve the majority of the people.
“The failure of the economy to absorb as many South Africans as possible, particularly the youth, had an impact on the performance of the ANC.
“The state of our governance was also an issue, more especially at local government level. If you look at these elections, the contestation in this election unlike in the past was more about basic services, which are essentially the primary responsibility of the local government sphere of our country as opposed to national,” Ntuli explained.
He further said the party’s research revealed that the level of confidence of the population in the ANC-led national and provincial governments was almost converging with the same level of confidence that the population had in local government.
Ntuli was speaking on the party’s lekgotla outcomes on the party’s election performance in the May 29 elections.
Meanwhile, SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila continued to question the ANC’s decision to form a Government Of National Unity (GNU) with the DA.
“During the ANC’s talks with other parties, we were only told about the decisions that had already been taken. When you listen to Helen Zille speak in public, we realise that there is a real reason why we were excluded from the meetings,” said Mapaila.
He said it was not in their best interest to break away from the ANC, as that was the party’s goal, adding that it would weaken their efforts against their opponents.
Furthermore, Mapaila said the SACP needed to have more discussions about their future with the ANC.
The Star
sipho.jack@inl.co.za