Mbalula : Discipline and unity must come first to rebuild ANC strength

ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula has emphasised the importance of discipline and unity within the party, saying these qualities are central to regaining the organisation’s strength and projecting it as a force in society.

Addressing delegates at the close of the 12th ANC Tshwane Regional Conference on Sunday, Mbalula said the party must avoid being preoccupied with non-issues and gossip, and warned against manufactured disputes that have delayed conferences.

“The ANC should project itself as a force, not be preoccupied with non-issues,” Mbalula said. 

He noted that disputes artificially created in branches had delayed the regional congress, despite the branches having successfully held their meetings.

“Other comrades manufacture disputes. When the dispute is not there, a branch met, had a successful BGM, they go and manufacture a dispute. And then a branch must rerun and rerun and rerun. It is not fair for the branch’s comrades.

''But our processes are proven to be correct. In terms of dispute resolution mechanism. I am happy that this process has now come to an end.”

Mbalula highlighted that the Gauteng regions have completed the first step in reconfiguring the party and are now in good standing.

He urged the province to be ready to hold its Provincial Conference before March 2026, in line with the directive of the ANC's National Executive Committee.

He stressed the importance of strong organisational structures as the foundation for political engagement with communities.

“You cannot march to the communities and engage them politically and make them believe in the ANC if you don’t have structures,” he said.

“We are faced with a mammoth of tasks year in, year out to get the ANC back into power. And that task can only be fulfilled by you. And only if you exist in every ward, every branch, year in, year out. And you breathe life to society about the ideas and bring the ANC in good light in our different communities.”

Mbalula described the regional structures as the “shock troopers” of the ANC, calling them “combatants” tasked with rebuilding the party from the ground up.

He encouraged delegates to lead with pride, discipline, cohesion, and unity, reminding them that these are “a lived experience, not convenience.”

Acknowledging the efforts of ANC members deployed in local government, Mbalula praised their work in Tshwane, highlighting their contribution to service delivery and the broader goal of restoring the party to power.

“Whenever you fix those roads, you do things. We feel proud. We see ourselves in you. Because that is exactly what we send you to do,” he said.

He called on members to “redouble the effort on the ground” and to maintain discipline as the foundation for organisational strength.

The conference also saw the election of regional leaders, with Eugene Modise and George Matjila re-elected unopposed as regional chairperson and secretary, respectively. Sam Mashola retained his position as deputy secretary. Contested posts resulted in Tlangi Mogale being elected deputy chairperson, while James Shelenge secured the treasurer position.

Mbalula urged delegates to embrace all members, including those who did not contest positions.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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