31 years later : ANC’s stability strained

(The Post News) – 31 years after leading South Africa into democracy, the African National Congress (ANC) is no longer the unchallenged political giant it once was. The party has lost its unrivaled status. A party entered government with immense moral authority.

This authority was grounded in sacrifice, struggle, and the leadership of Nelson Mandela. Now, it battles a crisis of credibility. The crisis is so deep that even its liberation legacy can no longer hold it together.

Decades of internal decay have plagued the ANC. Corruption scandals and leadership battles contributed to its challenges. Worsening economic pressures have made this the most precarious moment of its democratic history.

Once a movement of unity and purpose, it is now a fractured organisation. It navigates coalition politics and public distrust. The electorate is no longer captive to nostalgia.

Corruption and Economic Malaise

The ANC’s modern identity is now defined by corruption. This betrayal has eroded its standing. It has also shaken public confidence. The Phala Phala scandal involved the alleged concealment of stolen foreign currency at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm.

It cast a long shadow over his presidency. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. However, the scandal highlighted a growing belief. Many think that the ANC is unable to hold its leaders accountable. Others suggest they are unwilling.

But South Africans know this story didn’t begin with Ramaphosa. Many now say, “Let’s not even speak of the likes before Ramaphosa.” It is a sharp reference to the state capture era under Jacob Zuma. During this time, billions were siphoned out of the public purse, and institutions buckled under political interference.

The rot did not stop there. Senior figures such as Pule Mabe faced allegations of benefiting from questionable tenders. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is on special leave. He faces allegations of meddling in investigations. It is also reported that he shields criminal networks linked to the likes of Vusimuzi ‘cat’ Matlala.

And another ANC member, Brown Mogotsi whom everyone has denied three times. Despite the severity of the claims, the ANC’s inconsistent application of its step-aside rule continues to undermine its credibility.

Each scandal is not an isolated event. It is part of a broader culture of impunity. This culture has hollowed out the party’s moral authority.

A Strained Economy

At the heart of public frustration lies an economy that has simply failed to deliver. Unemployment stands at roughly 32%, with youth unemployment far higher. Poverty remains entrenched. Inequality, one of the worst in the world, continues to widen.

Many years of promises have been made about economic transformation. Many South Africans have lost faith in the ANC. They doubt it can steer the country toward meaningful recovery.

The perception is clear.

The party once promised a better life for all. Now it is struggling to provide even basic stability.

Coalition Pressures

As its electoral support plummeted from 57.5% in 2019 to around 40% in recent elections, the ANC has entered a political landscape shaped by coalition governments. These arrangements reveal its internal fractures even further being forced to join hands with DA and EFF.

Leadership disputes have become routine. Factional battles shape decisions more than policy or public interest. Younger voters are disillusioned by years of stagnation. They no longer view the ANC as the guardian of democracy. Instead, they see it as a party unable to adapt to the country’s evolving needs.

The ANC stands at a crossroads. The road ahead demands more than symbolic gestures. It requires more than public displays of unity. Thirty-one years later, the question is no longer whether the ANC can govern. The question is whether it can transform itself before it becomes a relic of its past.

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Nomsa Diallo

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