GAUTENG (CONVERSEER) – The 5th National General Council (NGC) of the ANC is underway at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, Gauteng, a gathering billed as a critical moment for internal renewal and reflection.
The meeting will run until 11 December.
ANC Secretary‑General Fikile Mbalula emphasized ahead of the meeting that the NGC “will not be used as a platform to remove” President Cyril Ramaphosa, dismissing rumours of an internal leadership challenge.
He said the focus is squarely on organisational renewal and implementing resolutions from the ANC’s 2022 national conference.
Instead of leadership battles, the NGC is expected to review the party’s performance, address structural problems, and chart a path forward ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
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Internal discipline also appears to be on the agenda, the party has tightened deadlines for regional and branch meetings to ensure all structures are in good standing, and plans to enforce its internal disciplinary rule more strictly.
However, analysts warn that despite official assurances, the NGC may not be able to fully quash speculation over eventual succession, especially given the ANC’s disappointing performance in 2024 general elections and growing pressure to deliver.
