Ramaphosa warns ANC against early leadership battles

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has spoken out against premature lobbying and infighting within the party ahead of the ANC’s 2027 elective conference.

Recent media reports have claimed that tensions between party general secretary Fikile Mbalula and Gauteng chairperson Panyaza Lesufi could intensify due to the fight for the ANC leadership at the 2027 conference.

However, Ramaphosa stressed that the conference was still a long way off and leaders should not start fighting each other for a place in the top seven positions.

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He was speaking at the closing meeting of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) in Ekurhuleni on Sunday.

“The time will come for disciplined discussions as well as engagement on leadership succession,” Ramaphosa said.

“Now is not the time because our next national conference is not until 2027 and we are now in 2024.”

He said that the ANC leaders must be concerned with rebuilding the organization instead of.

“It (ANC) should focus on preparing for the local government elections (LGE).”

ANC Integrity Commission Report

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa said the NEC had decided that all party members who failed to appear before the integrity commission over state capture should be referred to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).

“The NEC has directed the Secretary General to expedite the appointment of a panel to consider the appeals, reviews and recommendations of the integrity commission before the NEC makes a final decision.”

He said the NEC reviewed all ethics commission reports from 2019 to 2024.

“The NEC noted that some reports were implemented while some others were overshadowed by certain events.

He also mentioned that the NEC had instructed Mbalula process NEC recommendations on certain cases and report to the integrity commission.

Ramaphosa said the NEC had also adopted new amendments to the integrity commission’s terms of reference and opt-out guidelines.

“This will provide greater clarity and focus to the integrity commission’s work.”

He stressed that the ethics commission plays a crucial role in the party’s renewal process by examining political and ethical complaints against ANC leaders.

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“The third element of renewal is the cultivation of integrity, ethics and organizational discipline.

“The Ethics Commission is the guardian of the values ​​and ethics of the African National Congress (ANC).”