The ANC has postponed its national executive committee (NEC) meeting, initially scheduled for this weekend, according to a resolution by the party’s national working committee (NWC) on Monday.
Instead, senior ANC leaders will travel to the Western Cape — the province in which the party recorded one of its weakest electoral performances in the recent national polls — as part of a broader effort to regain political ground in opposition strongholds.
The ANC NEC last held an ordinary meeting in the first quarter of 2025 in the wake of the budget crisis, which saw a near disintegration of the government of national unity (GNU). The upcoming NEC was due to discuss the fragile GNU and other matters including preparations for the party’s national general council and its position on whether the SACP should be permitted to contest elections independently.
The NEC was also expected to examine the ANC’s broader economic trajectory.
“The NWC resolved that it should be postponed to a later stage to do thorough political work on a whole range of issues, including the state of the government of national unity, and to do political work on our situation within the alliance of mending relations and dealing with matters of reconfiguration that affect our relations with one of our alliance partners, which have taken a decision to go to the next election on its own, and that requires deep reflection and decision by the national executive committee,” secretary-general Fikile Mbalula told reporters on Tuesday.
“That process on its own requires thorough going engagement with alliance partners … and ultimately to convene an alliance political committee, and we hope to … conclude that process.”
The postponement of the NEC follows the appearance of police minister Senzo Mchunu and higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane before the party’s integrity committee. The pair were made to appear before the party’s internal watchdog at the weekend regarding their respective links to corruption and mismanagement in their portfolios in the cabinet.
Mchunu has been placed on special leave pending the outcome of a judicial commission of inquiry into his alleged links to the criminal underworld, while the presidency says a report into Nkabane was due soon. She is facing allegations of misconduct regarding the appointment of politically connected individuals to sector education and training authority (Seta) boards.
The NWC is set to use the weekend to meet the party’s regions in the Western Cape on Saturday, and have a meeting with the provincial executive on Sunday. Thereafter the NWC will meet on its own on Monday, according to a notice sent to members by Mbalula.
Update: July 15 2025
This story has been updated with Mbalula’s comments.
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