Published in the Sunday Times, 08 March 2026

South Africa’s political landscape has long been shaped by the African National Congress (ANC), a movement deeply woven into the democratic project that emerged in 1994. Today, however, the ANC stands at a critical juncture. Its authority, once grounded in collective discipline and ideological clarity, is increasingly weakened by the rise of personal ambition over organisational purpose. The contestation ahead of the 2027 elective conference is not only a party matter. It is a national moment of reckoning.

The shift from movement-centred leadership to personality-driven politics is now unmistakable. Internal coherence has eroded. Values that once defined the ANC as a moral force have been displaced by factional interests. Transactional politics has taken root where principled engagement once guided debate. These internal fractures extend beyond the party, shaping governance outcomes and eroding public trust, which remains central to democratic legitimacy.

At the core of the problem lies a leadership selection process heavily influenced by financial power and delegate arithmetic. Those able to fund extensive campaigns gain disproportionate advantage, often irrespective of capability or ethical standing. This undermines democratic credibility. Leadership contests should be defined by vision, competence, and integrity, not by access to resources or political patronage.

Renewal remains possible. The ANC continues to represent millions of South Africans who look to it for stability and stewardship. Ethical renewal cannot remain rhetorical. It must take structural form. Transparent campaign regulations, mandatory disclosure of funding sources, empowered integrity bodies, and auditable nomination processes would contribute meaningfully to restoring public confidence. Reforming internal systems is both an organisational necessity and a democratic imperative.

Internal instability inevitably translates into governance failure. Factional deadlock manifests in delayed decisions, inconsistent service delivery, and declining institutional capacity. Citizens encounter these failures directly through water shortages, electricity instability, and deteriorating infrastructure. Rebuilding trust requires strengthening procurement transparency, investing in credible monitoring and evaluation systems, and establishing direct channels for community feedback. A movement unable to stabilise itself cannot stabilise the nation.

A credible renewal agenda must prioritise ethical governance. This includes codifying transparent leadership campaign rules and granting integrity structures real authority. Lifestyle audits for deployees, performance-based leadership contracts, and accelerated disciplinary processes would signal a serious commitment to accountability. Branch-level nomination processes must be transparent, auditable, and protected from manipulation to ensure leadership is earned rather than purchased.

These pressures are intensified by the broader context in which post-2027 leadership will operate. South Africa faces significant structural challenges, including the global acceleration of artificial intelligence, geopolitical instability, and domestic crises in water, energy, and logistics. At the same time, coalition governance, which will be firmly established following the 2026 municipal elections, will require political maturity, negotiation capability, and a commitment to shared governance. The leadership elected in 2027 will inherit both a political organisation and a country undergoing transition.

Coalitions are now an enduring feature of South African politics. The ANC must adapt by developing outcomes-based coalition agreements anchored in clear minimum programmes. These agreements should include budget safeguards, dispute resolution mechanisms, and measurable performance indicators. At the municipal level, stability depends on professionalised administrations where technical roles are insulated from political interference, ensuring continuity in service delivery regardless of political shifts. Coalition governance is not a temporary deviation. It represents the evolving structure of political practice.

Despite public claims to the contrary, the ANC succession contest is already underway. Provincial and regional battles have become de facto primaries, shaping alliances and signalling factional strength. These contests reveal deeper structural weaknesses, including fragmented branches, inconsistent accountability, and the absence of a unifying national vision. The race has effectively begun, regardless of formal declarations.

It should concern prospective ANC presidential candidates that sophisticated personal branding efforts are already being deployed to position individuals who have not formally declared their candidacy. In a context where branch delegates are often influenced by financial incentives, the entry of well-resourced candidates shifts the strategic calculus of leadership contests. Financial capacity increasingly shapes the trajectory of the race.

Whichever leadership outcome emerges, the stakes remain high. South Africa requires an ANC capable of providing stability while driving meaningful renewal. The movement retains the potential to meet this moment, but only through deliberate structural reform and a genuine commitment to ethical rebuilding. What is at stake is not only leadership within a party, but the future of a nation still striving to realise its constitutional promise.